Two evenly matched teams took to the hardwood Thursday and battled hard, but in the end it was the Kewanee Boilermakers edging out the Orion Chargers, 75-74.
Thursday marked the second round of action for both teams at the Cliff Warkins Memorial Classic in Erie. Kewanee and Orion were in Pool C along with Stark County.
During the first day of play, Kewanee beat Stark County 62-55 and Orion defeated the Rebels, 59-54. The Boilers emerged with a 2-0 record in Pool C and will play in tonight’s semifinals against Mercer County, the winner of Pool B.
Mercer County also went 2-0 in pool play. The Eagles beat Fulton, 57-47, and Erie-Prophetstown, 74-23.
Orion
Those who attended the Thursday matchup between Kewanee and Orion were treated to some sharpshooting by both squads.
The two teams made a total of 20 three-point shots throughout the game. The Boilers connected on 11 treys and Orion fired in nine.
In the opening frame, the Chargers held a slim 17-14 lead. Kyle Owens and Maddux Arnold each scored seven for Orion, while five Kewanee players scored in the first quarter of play.
Orion extended their lead to seven points after outscoring the Boilers, 24-20, in the second quarter. The Chargers were then ahead, 41-34, at the break.
Owens added nine more points in the second quarter (16 in the half) for the Chargers and Gus Nedved made two baskets from beyond the arc (nine in the half).
Blaise Lewis made two treys and Braden Clark scored six points for the Boilers in the second quarter. Clark had 10 first half points and Kashen Ellerbrock contributed eight points in the half.
Kewanee Coach Matt Clark thought his team could’ve played better defense in the first half.
“Giving up 41 points in the first half was way too many,” said Clark. “I don’t think we made them uncomfortable enough in their half court offense.”
Kewanee’s efforts in both facets of the game improved in the latter two quarters. The Boilers outscored the Chargers 22-16 in the third, but Orion still held a slim 57-56 lead heading into the final quarter.
Catrelle Reed and Colson Welgat each nailed two treys and Clark scored six more in the third quarter. Arnold had the hot hand for Orion and scored 10 more in the third.
“Half way through the third we decided to change it up on defense,” said Coach Clark. “We backed off our press and went straight half court man and tried to take away their easy looks and limit them to one shot and done,” he added.
Kewanee scored just enough in the fourth quarter to hang on for the one point win. The Boilers outscored Orion 19-17 in the final eight minutes of play and 41-33 in the second half.
Clark led the Kewanee charge by scoring 11 fourth quarter points (five of them at the free throw line). Welgat and Ellerbrock each made timely 3-pointers in the closing minutes.
Arnold scored eight more points for Orion in the fourth quarter.
“We were still trading baskets too much,” said Clark, “but in the fourth quarter we seemed to play our best defense the last 2-3 minutes and we limited them to tough shots.”
Clark was pleased with the way his team raised it’s level of execution late in the game. “I’m proud of how we battled through adversity to come out with the win.”
Clark led Kewanee’s balanced scoring attack with 27 points. Ellerbrock had 13, Lewis and Reed added 11 points a piece and Welgat scored nine in the win.
Arnold tallied 25, Owens added 23 and Nedved scored 10 for the Chargers.
Kewanee and Orion are now 8-4 on the season.
