The Kewanee Boilermakers opened the 2023-24 basketball season Monday night against Rockridge at the Geneseo Thanksgiving Shootout. The Rockets got the best of the Boilers and claimed the 50-36 win.
Kewanee got off to a sluggish start and they were only able to muster five first quarter points. Rockridge’s long-range shooting was lethal throughout the game. They connected on eight treys enroute to the win.
Landon Bull and Caleb Cunico set the tone early by hitting two early threes to give the Rockets a 10-5 lead. Kewanee senior point guard Blaise Lewis made one of his own in the first quarter.
Free throws kept the Boilers within arm’s reach of Rockridge in the second quarter. They connected on all six of their attempts. Brady Clark made four and Lewis made two. Senior forward Blake Johnston made a baseline jumper, but Kewanee still trailed 21-15 at the half.
“We struggled early to get shots to fall which created an uphill battle for us,” said Kewanee Coach Matt Clark. “I thought we did some good things at times defensively limiting Rockridge easy looks but they shoot the ball really well from three and we lost them a few times in transition,” added Clark.
The Rockets erupted for 19 third quarter points to thwart any Kewanee momentum. Five players contributed to Rockridge’s 19-point effort.
Clark drove the lane for eight of Kewanee’s 11 points in the frame. He also dished the ball to Lewis for another Kewanee score, but the Rockridge lead grew to 14 heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter was a draw, with each team scoring 10 points. Johnston had a tip in bucket and an assist to Davontae Jordan in the final minutes of the game.
Overall, Clark was pleased with how his team competed, physically, throughout the game and he expects they’ll be able to build off of this loss and improve each game.
“Playing a high quality opponent in game one showed us what we need to work on at both ends of the court,” said Clark. “Rockridge does a good job limiting easy looks and we struggled knocking down perimeter shots. I expect us to hit more of those as the week unfolds.”
Clark led the Boilers with 15 points, six rebounds and two steals. Lewis contributed seven points and two assists.
The Boilers will take on host Geneseo at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the main gym at Geneseo High School.
KHS sophomores defeat Rockridge
The Kewanee sophomore boys basketball team defeated Rockridge, 34-27, during first round action of the Geneseo Sophomore Thanksgiving Shootout.
Abram Hicks and Josh Dewante led the Riveters squad with 10 and eight points, respectively. The sophomores will play Geneseo at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Geneseo Foundation Activity Center.
