Tyler New’s 35 Points Not Enough Against Lions

Worth County’s boys dug themselves into a hole against Christian and could not dig their way out of it against the high-scoring Lions squad, falling 82-68 in St. Joseph Friday night despite Tyler New’s 35 points. Tyler New kept the Tigers in most of the game, but 11 first quarter turnovers and key foul trouble hurt the Tigers at key moments of the game.

The Lions have made little secret of what they want to do – shoot as many 3-pointers as possible, put as much pressure on the ball as possible, trap everything, and push the ball up the floor regardless of the score or the caliber of opposition. They have always been an up-tempo team under Neal Hook, but this year, they kicked it into another gear. For Worth County, they fell into a familiar pattern – dig themselves into a big hole, nearly climb out of it, then wear themselves out and be unable to complete the comeback.

Cy Carlson took over the first quarter, scoring 13 of Christian’s 26 points in the period. He had plenty of help, with people like Nick Orscheln exploding to the rim along with Hayden Riley. The scary thing about it is that out of the 14 players listed in their roster, 12 of them are either freshmen or sophomores. They have plenty of upside potential as the season progresses.

By the time the first quarter had ended, there was plenty of reason to feel bleak as the Tigers were down 26-13. But somehow, they made a game of it in the second without a single point from Tyler New as Tanner Ridge chipped in a 3-pointer and a couple of drives, John Galanakis got a putback, Levi Cassavaugh scored off a drive, and Cannon Fletcher hit a 3-pointer and added a drive. Worth County got the deficit down to 39-29 late in the second quarter, but a costly foul on Levi Cassavaugh turned the momentum back in the Lions favor, as it was his third foul. Without one of their best ballhandlers and defenders on the floor, Worth County struggled as the Lions finished the half on a 9-0 run, including two NBA 3-pointers, to lead 48-29.

Worth County fought back again to start the third quarter as Tyler New scored 11 in the period and Levi Cassavaugh scored 5, Galanakis 4, and Tanner Ridge 2 as they got as close as 52-49 before Hayden Riley broke the run with a 3-pointer. 

Nick Orscheln had the hot hand as the Lions built up a 70-51 lead early in the fourth before Tyler New scored 15 in the period in a futile effort to bring the Tigers back.