As the Patriots near the midway point of the 2016-17 season, two things have become apparent from this year’s Allen County-Scottsville team. First, this year’s team can shoot the basketball. Second, the Patriots have players that can step up their game on a given night.
Evidence to support these assumptions can be found in a look at AC-S past week. Shooting 60 percent from the floor (29-48) help key last week’s 80-70 win over District 15 rival Glasgow. The Glasgow game also featured superb play from Marcus Carter. The junior forward netted a career-high 19 points in the win.
Shooting percentages tapered somewhat Saturday during the Patriots’ 68-51 setback at Monroe County. However, sophomore Brett Rippy continued to shine as the point guard led the Patriots with 19 points in just over 26 minutes of action. The effort marked the fourth time in 13 games that Rippy has scored 19 points or more.
The highlight of the week was the win over Glasgow. Making 19 of their first 30 shots, the Patriots turned a close game---21-17 after the first eight minutes---into a commanding 20-point (48-28) halftime lead. The 27-11 Patriot run in the second quarter was keyed by AC-S making nine of 12 shots and seven of 10 free throws. Glasgow outscored AC-S 19-14 in the third frame and 23-18 over the last eight minutes but their efforts were not enough to stop the Patriots from picking up a much-needed district win.
Carter’s night was almost perfect. From the floor, the Patriot forward made eight of his 10 field goals in the 29 minutes of action on the floor. Carter went three of four at the foul line. Defensively, Carter grabbed 11 rebounds to go with a pair of offensive yanks---giving him 13 boards---second only to a 15-rebound game against Edmonson County earilier in the season. For added measure, Carter blocked two Glasgow shots and handed out two assists.
Whereas Carter was dominate offensively, his strong night was not alone for AC-S. Rippy finished with 15 points on four of seven shooting from the floor. Two of Rippy’s basket were three-pointers. The sophomore also sank five of six free throws. Rippy showed his ability to grab rebounds, grabbing five rebounds---one shy of his career-high of six. Rippy recorded three assists and a steal in the game.
Not to be overlooked in the win was sophomore Cayden Ross. The young guard continues to improve each game. Ross scored a career-high 12 points on four of eight shooting from the floor and four of six from the foul line. In addition, Ross handed out three assists and had four steals in just under 24 minutes of action. Ross’s 12 points pushed his scoring total to 33 points over the course of the Patriots previous four games---an average of just over eight point per game.
Joining Carter, Rippy, and Ross in double figures in scoring was Jack Ward. The senior used his explosive move to the basket to sink five field goals in the game and gather 10 points in the game. Ward also grabbed three rebounds, dished out three assists, and had a steal in playing slightly under 29 minutes.
Five additional Patriots scored in the game---Kerby Carver, Sam Clarke, Brock Meador, Dillion Reid, and Wesley Fisher. As a unit, the five finished with 24 points. Carver grabbed nine rebounds, just missing another double figure rebounding game.
Defensively, AC-S limited Glasgow to an overall shooting percentage of 38.1. On the glass, carter’s play helped the Patriots dominate the rebounding battle, out rebounding the hosts 44-25. Of the total, the Patriots grabbed 14 offensive boards.
However, the Patriots struggled to stop the play of talented Scottie freshman Nick Sowell---a name to remember going forward. Sowell led all scorers with 31 points on 11 of 22 shooting including three 3-point shots. Sowell also went six of seven at the foul line.
Sowell’s play---coupled with 13 second half turnovers by the Patriots--- was a key as Glasgow rallied in the final 16 minutes. However, in the end, the Patriots held off the Glasgow charge by making five of their final eight shots of the game and going eight of 11 from the foul line in the fourth period. The Patriots finished the night 20-31 from the foul line (64.5%).
The win over Glasgow the Patriots poised to improve to 2-1 in the district standing heading into Saturday’s game at Monroe County---a game postponed a day due to last week’s winter weather. However, Monroe County proved to be too much for AC-S
Led by junior rising star Billy Michael Dyer, the Falcons opened a 22-14 lead after the first quarter. Shooting at 60 percent for most of the first half, Monroe County increased their lead to 14 at halftime, 43-29. Monroe County (9-6) edged AC-S 13-10 in the third quarter before the teams traded buckets the rest of the way. Dyer finished with a game-high 28 points, keeping his season average to over 23 points per game.
AC-S did start the game by continuing to shoot the rock well. The Patriots made 13 of their first 25 shots (52%) including three 3-point shots. AC-S shooting cooled in the final 16 minutes when the Patriots misfired on 16 of their final 23 shots. Overall, AC-S went 20-48 (41.7%) with the field goals including three-point baskets from Rippy, Ward, and Camden Carver. After not shooting a free throw in the first half, AC-S went six of seven in the second half.
Rippy’s 19 points came on eight of 12 shooting from the floor including three bombs beyond the arch. Carter was held to 10 points on three of eight shooting from the floor. Carter would go four-for-four at the foul line. Kerby Carver added eight points and eight rebounds in just over 24 minutes of game time.
The Falcons finished the game shooting 52.1% from the floor (25-48) and were seven of 19 from three point range. At the foul line, the Falcons were 11 of 12. Monroe County out rebounded AC-S 28-25.
The Monroe County loss drops the Patriots to 1-2 in district play. AC-S (4-9) will have an attempt to get back in the win column as Glasgow (2-10) comes to Patriot Gym Friday night in the back-end of a girl-boy doubleheader. The Patriots will also entertain Greenwood (9-7) Saturday evening and Butler County (3-8) next Tuesday.