The Kewanee Boilermakers used a big 27-point first quarter push to beat Riverdale in Saturday’s third place game at the Cliff Warkins Memorial Basketball Classic in Erie. Kewanee (9-5) built a 41-19 halftime lead over Riverdale (11-4) and cruised to the 69-54 win.
“It was a good way to end a long week of basketball,” said Kewanee Coach Matt Clark. “Erie runs a good tournament and the 12 teams produced some competitive games. Going 3-1 against quality opponents sets us up for a good second half to the season,” added Clark.
Kewanee got Riverdale on their heels early by outscoring the Rams 27-10 in the opening frame. Junior Catrelle Reed made two 3-pointers and scored eight points in the first quarter, while fellow junior Colson Welgat added seven points for the Boilers.
Jake Willems scored nine of Riverdale’s 10 first quarter points and 14 of their 19 first half points.
Reed, Welgat and Braden Clark each had 10 first half points to lead Kewanee.
“Our first quarter set the tone for the game,” noted Clark. “The defensive effort and execution was much needed. It was our weak spot this week, but tonight we played our best defense.”
The Boilers played the Rams on Dec. 16 and came away with a narrow 49-48 win. “Having played Riverdale two weeks ago helped with being familiar with their offensive strengths and weaknesses,” said Clark.
Kewanee maintained a 56-35 lead after three quarters and Clark used the 21-point advantage to get everyone some playing time. In all, 10 Boiler players scored in the game.
Willems led all scorers with 25 points (14 in the first half and 11 in the second half). Brady Clark added 10 for the Rams.
Braden Clark scored 15 for the Boilers, while Reed added 12 and Welgat had 10 in the win.
Braden Clark averaged 25 points in tourney play and was accorded all-tournament team honors.
Semifinal game vs Mercer County
The Boilermakers came up four points shy of being able to compete in the title game of the Cliff Warkins Memorial Classic. Kewanee held a 30-24 lead over Mercer County in the opening half, but the Boilers struggled in the third quarter and they weren’t able to recover. Mercer County won the semifinal game, 68-64.
Kewanee won the first two quarters 15-12, 15-12 and had the 30-24 go ahead at the break. Braden Clark scored 16 points in the first half and Blaise Lewis had 10 in support.
Colby Cox and Lucas Collison led Mercer County with seven points a piece.
The Boilers hit a bit of a scoring slump in the third quarter and were outscored by the Cougars, 17-10. With one quarter left to play, Kewanee was down by a point at 41-40.
The fourth quarter turned into a scoring frenzy as the two teams combined to score 51 points. Mercer County outscored Kewanee 27-24 to hang on for the 68-64 win.
Key for the Cougars was their ability to make free throws down the stretch. They made 13 of 15 in the fourth quarter and Carson Boelens came up clutch, hitting all eight of his free throw attempts (and 10-12 in the game). Collison tossed in eight more points to secure the win.
Clark scored 10 in the closing frame and Lewis tossed in eight more for the Boilers.
“The game from start to finish was a competitive, entertaining game,” said Kewanee Coach Matt Clark. “Both teams played a physical game that was up and down with a lot of great performances and shot making.”
Clark felt a big difference in the game was on the defensive end and, ultimately, at the free throw line. “We need to do a better job playing position defense without fouling. I think our defense let us down and giving up offensive rebounds hurt us with their second chance points,” added Clark.
For the game, Mercer County was 22-33 at the charity stripe and Kewanee was 9-13.
Clark scored a game-high 29 points and Lewis had 22 points in the loss.
Collison led Mercer County with 20 points, Boelens had 16 and Cox contributed 13 points.
