Area Basketball Recap – Jan. 14
By: Aaron Pyle
Lady Trojans prevail, boys fall in thriller
In the Lady Trojans’ previous contest, Jan. 13, the team would fall to the undefeated Carl Junction Bulldogs [10-0] 66-25. One day following the loss, the Lady Trojans traveled to Riverton getting back to CNC action against the Rams [1-6].
In the first quarter, both teams struggled to get anything going combining for 17 points in the first quarter. The Lady Trojans picked it up in the second quarter credited to the teams’ work inside the paint area attacking the undersized Rams. Girard outscored Riverton 16-6 in the second quarter to lead 25-14 at halftime.
From there, the Lady Trojans kept the effort going leading by double-digits for the remainder of the game. Girard went on to beat Riverton 51-38.
“To go on the road two nights in a row, that’s a pretty big thing to have to do but I thought the kids responded very well to that,” said Coach Brad Herlocker.
Looking to continue their dominance, the Girard Lady Trojans [3-3] will stay home for a CNC matchup with rival school Frontenac [4-1].
For the boys, the Trojans came into the matchup coming off a tough 53-52 loss to Columbus, Jan. 10. In the previous three matchups for Girard, their game has been decided by less than six points and much of the same came in their matchup Jan. 14 against Riverton [5-1].
Undersized, the Trojans were able to match the Rams’ efforts with their aggressive, up-tempo style of play in the first half. Momentum swung on the Trojans’ side early on as the team was hitting on all cylinders with the Rams struggling to get a rhythm. Making an 8-2 run to begin the second quarter, the Trojans pushed the lead even further as they led 29-19 heading into halftime.
Girard maintained the double-digit lead for the entirety of the third quarter. In the fourth, the Rams began to surge back into the game as the Trojans began to sputter on offense. With one minute remaining, the Trojans gave up the ball on two straight possessions giving the Rams the ball and the lead after a made mid-range pullup to go up one with 6.5 seconds remaining. Driving down the floor, junior Rigby Born made the game-tying layup as the clock expired.
In the first overtime, neither team was able to give the other an advantage. Key free throw makes on both sides forced the game to another overtime after the score was tied 54-54.
For the second OT, the Trojans maintained the edge for a majority of the quarter. Missing key attempts to seal the game at the free-throw line, the Rams had one last chance to tie the game back up with six seconds remaining. The Rams would nail the game-tying three-pointer as the clock expired sending the game to another overtime.
In the third overtime, the game would come down to the final possession down two points with 6.8 seconds remaining. The Trojans missed the game-tying layup attempt falling in triple-overtime, 71-69.
“Our guys battled all night long,” said Coach Rod Wescott. “It’s a learning process, it’s a hard one but sometimes those hard ones you learn better from those. Tough lesson to learn but proud of our guys.”
In wake of the loss, the Trojans [2-4] stay home for a league battle against CNC foe Frontenac [2-3], Jan. 17.
Indians sweep Wildcats
For the Lady Indians, in their previous matchup Jan. 10, the team dominated the Pleasanton Blu-Jays to capture the second straight win for St. Paul. Following the victory, the Lady Indians traveled to Marmaton Valley to face the Wildcats in a conference battle.
St. Paul held the Wildcats in check for the first quarter allowing Marmaton Valley to just six points to begin the game. Both teams would catch fire from the second quarter and on as each side traded baskets in an offensive skirmish.
The Lady Indians went on to win 47-36 after holding the Wildcats to six points in the final quarter.
Senior Katie Coomes led the way for the Lady Indians in Tuesday’s matchup finishing the game with 17 points. Seniors Taylor Wiatrak and Emily Hutcherson made a significant impact as well for St. Paul combining for 13 of the teams’ points.
Following the victory, the Lady Indians [7-2] travel to Pittsburg to face the always dangerous St. Mary’s-Colgan Panthers [5-3] in a non-conference contest, Jan. 16.
On the boys’ side, the Indians come off a 63-51 victory over Pleasanton, Jan. 10. The Indians then traveled to Marmaton Valley following the win to face the winless Wildcats [0-6] in a conference battle.
From the opening whistle, the Indians dominated the struggling Wildcats holding Marmaton Valley to just 16 points in St. Paul’s 64-16 victory.
The Indians had multiple players finish the game in double-digits; senior Kaleb Lemmons [16], senior Chandler Bradshaw [12], and senior Chase Bradshaw [11].
Looking to continue the winning streak, the Indians [6-3] travel to St. Mary’s-Colgan to face the Panthers [2-6] in a non-conference contest, Jan. 16.