(by Don Meador, The Citizen-Times)
For the first time in 10 years, the Allen County-Scottsville Patriots have started a basketball season with back-to-back wins. The Patriots opened their 2018-19 season with a 71-61 victory Tuesday night at Patriot Gym. Friday, a 74-64 win over the Russellville Panthers capped off a solid first week.
Four Patriots scored in double figures on November 27 to left AC-S past South Warren (0-2) and give coach Brad Bonds his first win with the boys’ program.
"We came out and played with a lot of energy and passion against South,” coach Brad Bonds said. "I thought we executed our transition game well, made shots early and found a way to win late."
Senior guard Brett Rippy just missed his first career double-double. Rippy led all scorers with 24 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished out five assists. Sophomore guard Mason Shirley added a career-high 16 points, dished out five assists, and recorded four steals. Sophomore guard Jax Cooper and junior forward Owen Stamper each had a career-high 11 points. Stamper also grabbed eight rebounds.
The Patriots shot 52% from the floor for the game, making 26-50 shots. The percentage included seven three-point shots. At the line, AC-S sank 12 of 16 free throws. South Warren was 23-40 from the floor 957.5%) and nine of 21 at the foul line. The Patriots out rebounded the Spartans 29-21.
AC-S sprinted to a 19-14 lead after the first quarter and controlled the pace the rest of the way. After building their largest lead of the game, 31-18, in the second, the Patriots carried a 34-27 lead to the locker room at halftime. The teams traded baskets in the third period with AC-S winning the fourth frame 20-18 to record the 10-point win.
"Hustle, 50-50 balls, and answering runs in my opinion were the difference makers in this game,” Bonds added. “Three separate times, we had built a 10-12-point lead and every time South made a small run to narrow game to 4-6 points, however, each of those time we settled and found a way to take back control of the game and build lead back up with efficient offense and big stops defensively."
Bonds explained that the game reflected the squad buying into the plans implemented by the coaching staff.
"As a coaching staff we have been very intentional about giving the boys a little freedom of play, but at the expense of maintaining a work ethic and attitude that breeds success, so far they have bought in and seem to be having lots of fun doing so,” Bonds said.
Four first-quarter three-pointers---three off the fingertips of Rippy----powered the Patriots to a strong start Friday night against Russellville. Rippy would add a pair of buckets, Owen Stamper drilled a three, and Cayden Ross scored to help the Patriots grab an 18-17 lead after the first.
AC-S stretched their lead to six following a three from Shirley at the 5:19 mark of the second. Three quick baskets by Panther Elijah Kemp tied the score at 26. However, AC-S answered. Free throws by Rippy and Stamper, a put back basket by Trace McIntyre, and a jumper by Stamper lifted AC-S to a 34-28 lead. The Panthers countered with an 8-0 run over the final 100 seconds to edge ahead 36-34 at halftime.
The Patriots turned up their defensive pressure in the third which forced Russellville into a poor shooting quarter. The Panthers were three of 16 from the floor in the third. Behind a balanced attack, AC-S outscored Russellville 17-8, building as much as a 10-point lead late in the period.
The fourth quarter would see the Panthers mount a series of runs---with each one handled by the Patriots. Leading 51-44 to start the period, AC-S withstood the first Panther challenge. Russellville (0-1) pulled to within four, 54-50. However, AC-S answered as Rippy and Stamper nailed free throws while Shirley added a jumper to
enable the Patriots to retake a 10-point lead, 60-50, at the 5:43 mark.
Five points by Panther sharp-shooter Jacob Naylor again brought the Panthers to within five. Again, AC-S answered. A jumper by Ross and a basket by Stamper enabled the Patriots to rebuild a nine-point lead with 3:32 left. Stamper would sink another jumper after a Russellville hoop before the Patriots secured the win with eight free throws in the final 1:37.
“I am extremely proud of our young men for the way they challenged themselves against Russellville,” Bonds noted. “We were not the biggest, quickest, or tallest team on the floor.; however, we played with grit, determination and resiliency. Russellville is a good basketball team that's going to win games especially the way Naylor and Kemp played."
AC-S finished the night 23 of 47 from the floor (48.9 percent), eight of 14 from three-point range, and 20-33 at the foul line. The Patriots out rebounded the Panthers 39-32.
"We shot the ball well and continued to show mental and physical toughness throughout the game," Bands added.
Rippy stayed hot, finishing the night with a career high 29 points on eight of 10 shooting from the floor (including four three-point baskets). The senior was nine of 11 at the foul line. Stamper added a career-best 19 points on seven of 11 shooting, two three-pointers, and three free throws. Shirley contributed 14 points and dished out a career-high eight assists---just missing the double-double in points and assists.
"Owen Stamper, Mason Shirley, and Brett Rippy have paced us in the first two games,” Bonds said, adding, “but what I love about these young men (on this team) is that we are extremely deep and any one of six or seven guys are capable of putting up large numbers on any given night. Versatility is going to be a key to our success as the season progresses."
The play of the Patriots in their first two games have turned heads---especially among the sports media in Southcentral Kentucky. Each week, writers and broadcasters vote in the Daily News Media Poll. The Patriots were not in the top 10 in the preseason poll but jumped to a sixth ranking in this week’s poll.
AC-S (2-0) will host Greenwood (0-1) Thursday night before traveling to Cumberland County (1-2) Friday. Tuesday, the Patriots entertain Warren East (1-1).
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