Worth County threatened to revert to form against South Harrison, against whom they had erased four decades of futility against last year. But then Mason the Hawk came through for them again, hitting a guarded three at the halftime buzzer to tie up a game in which they had been completely outplayed up to that point. Worth County fell behind again in the second, only to gain the lead after three quarters. Then, in an astonishing collapse, South Harrison went scoreless in the fourth quarter, missing everything even from close range as Worth County was able to pull away for the 59-45 victory Friday.
The Tigers were able to cap off a celebration of the most successful combined season that the boys and girls have had together. With the win, they were able to get their 20th win of the year. The boys and the girls have combined for the most wins in school history with 37 and counting, eclipsing the mark of 36 set last year and in 1982-83. They have won their 12th straight, the most since the 1982-83 season when they won 19. The school record is still 21, set by the 1965-66 team that was the GRC Tri-Champs. The current group of seniors has set another school mark; with 68 wins, this is the most games a group of seniors has won together over a four year span. The teams of the late 60’s won around 60 games, while the teams from 1982-83 to 1985-86 won 60.
Back to back threes from Cade Allee and Ryan McClellan put Worth County up 6-0, but then nothing else went right for Worth County in the first half. Torrid shooting from Dylan Ward, who had four three-pointers in the half, got going for South Harrison. The game was tied at 10 and 12 before Worth County led 16-15 after one. Ryan McClellan had 9 points in the period.
It didn’t matter how Worth County tried to guard South Harrison, they always seemed to have an answer. They tried their trapping zone, only for Ward to get loose from downtown again. They tried man to man, only for Treyton Campbell and Kinser Corbett to drive at will. Drake Kinsella picked up his third foul and South Harrison jumped out to a 32-27 lead late.
But then Caleb Parman drove the lane to make it 32-29 and then Mason the Hawk got a steal on defense. He threw to Cade Allee, who threw back to Hawk, who hit a guarded three at the buzzer, his first ever in a varsity uniform, to tie it at 32. All the time he spent before games, in PE classes at school, and in pickup games at the Sheridan park throwing up threes paid off in that moment. It was the second time he had bailed out the Tigers, going bezerk against North Nodaway in the fourth earlier in the year during Worth County’s 56-53 victory.
Ward got going again for South Harrison to put them up 39-34, but then Worth County went to a normal 2-3 zone, which finally seemed to slow them down. Mason Hawk got loose inside and Cade Allee got a putback to make it 39-38. Finally, Cade hit a triple from the top of the key to put Worth County in front again at 43-41. Campbell’s steal tied it up again at 43, but then Ryan McClellan took a charge on defense, his second of the game, and then Cade Allee followed with another three pointer to make it 46-43. Ward got loose again in transition for South Harrison to make it 46-45 after three, but little did they know that would be their last points of the game.
What happened next defied all expectations as everything South Harrison threw up clanked off the rim, even their shots at point blank range. In the meantime, Worth County slowly started to pull away despite stingy defense from the Bulldogs; Mason Hawk got loose inside and Caleb Parman hit a free throw to make it 49-45. Ryan McClellan went backdoor to make it six at the 4:13 mark.
As everything continued to clank off the mark for South Harrison, Worth County continued to pull away as Drake Kinsella got a pass from Caleb Parman as Worth County crossed the three possession threshold to make it 53-45. Mason Hawk got loose behind South Harrison’s press, Ryan McClellan, who had torched South Harrison in both games this year, did so again, going coast to coast after a quick outlet from Drake Kinsella. South Harrison was forced to foul Cade Allee, and he knocked down both free throws with 39 seconds left for the icing on the cake.
Cade Allee had 16 points to lead the Tigers. Ryan McClellan had 15, Mason Hawk 11, Caleb Parman 9, and Drake Kinsella 8.
Cade Allee had 2 blocks and Mason Hawk 1 for Worth County.
Drake Kinsella had 8 rebounds for the Tigers. Tevin Cameron had 6, Mason Hawk and Cade Allee 5 each, Ryan McClellan 3, and Caleb Parman and Wayde Parman 1 each.
Ryan McClellan and Mason Hawk had 5 assists. Cade Allee had 3, Caleb Parman 2, and Tevin Cameron and Drake Kinsella 1 each.
Mason Hawk had 3 tips, and Ryan McClellan, Cade Allee, Wayde Parman, Caleb Parman, and Tevin Cameron all had 1.
Mason Hawk had 2 steals. Cade Allee, Drake Kinsella, and Tevin Cameron all had 1.
Before the game, senior students in all winter sports and activities were recognized for Worth County. Recognized were Cade Allee, Tevin Cameron, Mason Hawk, Drake Kinsella, Ryan McClellan, and Wayde Parman for the boys basketball team. For girls basketball, Christina Clementoni was recognized. Two cheerleaders, Olivia Davidson and Elizabeth Owens were honored. For the pep band, Drew Martell, Riley Drury, and Quentin Miller were recognized. Wrestler Will Engel, who went to state this year and who won 37 matches, was also recognized.
No comments:
Post a Comment