***William Ly is a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
After Friday’s intense match against the Princeton Tigers, the Boilermakers were back in Brockman Gym the next morning. They faced off against the Farmington Central Farmers and took home a 46-44 win.
This win is crucial for the Boilermakers’ eventual regional seeding.
The Boilermakers and Farmers started the Saturday morning off strong, with each team going back and forth. One after another, each team fought to get a bucket. The first quarter ended 11-10 in favor of the Boilermakers.
At the start of the second quarter, senior Brayden Conley found junior Abram Hicks for an open three. After this play, the second quarter mimicked the first as both teams went back and forth.
With a little under half of the quarter left, junior Logan Peed put up a flawless floater over a defender to kill the Farmers’ 6-0 run.
In the next play, Peed gave senior Kashen Ellerbrock a pass for a crucial layup.
The Farmers eventually took the lead and ended the half up 23-22 on the Boilermakers.
The third quarter was filled with tough defense from both sides. Both teams embraced the physicality of the game. The third quarter ended 32-31 in favor of the Boilermakers. Hicks led the scoring for the Boilermakers going into the fourth with 14 points.
The Boilermakers began the fourth quarter roaring as they kept a lead over the Farmers for most of the quarter. The Farmers were able to take a one-point lead with less than three minutes left to go with a three and a free throw.
The Boilermakers fired back with their own three from Peed, who received a pass from senior Catrelle Reed.
The Farmers got a bucket back to tie the game up 44-44 with a minute left to go.
Trying to make a play, Reed went for a layup but was fouled in the lane. These free throws decided the game. Reed sank both of them for the Boilermakers to close the game out 46-44.
Leading the Boilermakers in scoring was Hicks (16), followed by Conley (9), Ellerbrock (7) and Reed (7).
The Boilermakers as a team shot 11/14 from the free throw line, which allowed them to take away this close win.
The Boilermakers will be back in Brockman to face off against the Monmouth-Roseville Titans on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The Titans are another team in KHS’s regional, so a win is crucial for a better playoff standing.
