Despite a contest where neither team gained a double-digit lead over their opponent, Southern Coffey County High could not muster enough to come out with a win Friday night over Chetopa High. Chetopa (11-8-9-15—43)
The Titans lost the contest 43-36, which eliminated them in the semi-final round of the class 1A, division II substate playoffs at the Allen Community College gymnasium.
“It’s the story of our year,” head coach Brandt Miller said of his team’s effort. “We just didn’t have a lot of firepower.”
Aaron True, Angus Nelson and Charlie Patterson started off the scoring for SCC, with some quick responses inside from the Hornets. The first quarter ended with the score tied at 11.
Brice Riddle hit early for Chetopa, followed with a 3-pointer from Derrick Cassell. True had a 3-pointer himself, followed up directly with a hard drive to the basket. The Hornets had a one-point advantage in the low-scoring contest, 19-18, going into the half.
It was the same story for the third, neck and neck.
Breylan Berrios immediately nailed a 3-pointer for the Hornets. Patterson responded from SCC’s side with a quick two points. True hit yet another 3-pointer to take a 23-22 lead with four minutes remaining in the third, then drove hard on the next possession and was fouled after hitting the shot. He made the free throw to edge the lead to four.
Riddle had two more baskets, followed by a 3-pointer from Berrios to end the half. The final quarter began with the Hornets on top again, 28-26.
Things started to slip away for the Titans.
Berrios hit a 3-pointer, followed by a score underneath from Austen Sanders and a floater through the middle from Sherrick Rogers. SCC called a timeout with six minutes remaining the game. Chetopa had driven the score to a 35-27 advantage.
SCC could not get back into the game from there. Despite a three-point play on a drive and foul from Angus Nelson, the score never got close than four points. Some key misses from the foul line didn’t help the effort either.
“When you have a two or three possession game throughout, and you miss a couple of shots in key moments, that is big,” Miller said.
True led the scoring for the Titans with 17 points, followed by Tyler Houston and Angus Nelson with five apiece.
Miller said he was proud of the way his team’s season had turned out, despite some tough losses along the way.
“This group of kids always plays hard in games and in practice, and that is something I am very proud of,” he said.
SCC (11-7-8-10—36)
Chetopa (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Cassell 2/1-2-2-9, Moses 0-0-1-0, Berrios 2/2-2-2-12, Riddle 3-0-4-6, Rogers 1-1-3-3, Sanders 1/3-2-0-13. TOTALS: 9/6-7-12-43.
SCC (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): True 5/2-1-3-17, Newkirk 0-0-4-0, Houston 1/1-0-0-5, Patterson 2-0-3-4, Nelson 2-1-2-5, Witteman 1-2-2-4, Harred 0-1-3-1. TOTALS: 11/3-5-17-36.
SCC boys fall to Chetopa
