Kewanee freshman boys finished third going 2-2 at the St. Bede Holiday Shootout.
The Boilers lost both Saturday to Streator 42-55 and St. Bede 55-57 and then closed the shootout with wins Tuesday against Oregon 50-26 and Fieldcrest on Wednesday 57-29.
“After the two losses we had last week to Geneseo and St. Bede I thought we responded really well on Saturday against Streator and again against St. Bede,” Coach Aaron Pratt said. “Our defense wasn’t perfect either game but I felt we took big steps in the right direction.”
Against Streator, Pratt said, “We struggled to put the ball through the hoop but shots started to fall late.
“The St. Bede game we came out strong to start holding them to just 23 points in the first half, which was better than the 23 we allowed in the first quarter Thursday against them,” the coach said. “We had a slow third and it was really the difference in the game.”
Pratt said, “I challenged the boys on Tuesday against Oregon to go out and take care of business early and they did. We led wire to wire. The same challenge stood last night with Fieldcrest and we came out and met that challenge with another wire to wire win.”
The team is 6-6 heading into Christmas break and will be back in action Friday, Jan. 5 at home against Bureau Valley.
Tournament points totals:
Adiel Arjon: 45
Jesus Del Toro: 13
Malik Diop: 2
Carter Ensley: 8
Jose Garcia: 2
Matthew Huggins:15
Isaiah Ince: 20
Dayvon Robinson: 55
Leeam Slover: 32
Damien Taylor: 9
