The Kewanee Boilermakers withstood a challenge from the Stark County Rebels and came away with a 62-55 win at the Cliff Warkins Memorial Classic.
The Boilers shot out to a 23-11 first quarter lead (15-4 in the first three minutes) by playing tough defense and creating turnovers. Catrelle Reed knocked down two 3-pointers in the early going and Braden Clark scored 10 points in the first quarter to get Kewanee’s offense rolling.
The Rebels were able to subdue the Boilers in the second quarter and outscored them 15-11. Will Rumbold scored seven points in the quarter and 12 in the first half for Stark County. Luke Rewerts and Ross Saner each scored seven in the first half in support.
Kewanee point guard Blaise Lewis scored five second quarter points for the Boilers. Kewanee, a team that often relies on it’s 3-point shooting, hit just two 3-pointers in the first half and a total of three for the game.
In spite of their shooting woes, the Boilers took a 34-26 lead into the locker room at halftime.
“We made a couple of early threes in that run to start the game, but only one the rest of the game which made it difficult to keep our rhythm going on the offensive end,” said Kewanee Coach Matt Clark. “At the end of the first (quarter) we were feeling good being up 23-11, but I thought we were relying on taking quick threes (that didn’t fall) which caused us to struggle offensively,” he added.
Stark County kept nipping at Kewanee’s heels in the third quarter, outscoring the Boilers, 18-13, and trailing by only three (47-44) heading into the final quarter. The Rebels made six 3-pointers in the game and five of those were in the third quarter (two by Matthew Bowser).
Clark made nine of Kewanee’s 13 third quarter points.
The Boilers were able to fend off a final run but Stark County in the fourth quarter. Clark made six points and Davontae Jordan and Reed each made two clutch free throws in the 15-11 fourth quarter. Rumbold (6) and Bowser (5) combined to score the Rebel’s final 11 points.
Clark led all scorers with 29 points and Reed added 10 in the win.
The Rebels had four players score in double figures. Rumbold had 20, Rewerts contributed 12, Bowser added 11 and Saner scored 10.
The Boilermakers are now 7-4 on the season and the Rebels are 6-5.
Kewanee will play the 8-3 Orion Chargers at 3 pm Thursday. In earlier tourney action on Wednesday, Orion slipped by Stark County, 59-54.
