The 21st
game of the year proved to be the night---the first night this season that many
of the shots put up by the Allen County-Scottsville Patriots just would not drop
through the net. As a result of poor shooting and a lack of rebounding, the
Patriots dropped a 59-54 decision Saturday night game to Bowling Green.
“It was a night when the shots just didn’t fall for us,” coach Brad Bonds said. “We had good looks at the baskets, shots that we normally and had consistently knocked down. Tonight, they just would not fall.”
Bonds added that his team’s shooting struggles began to create some uneasiness among his players.
“Because our shots did not fall, at the end of the first half and maybe at the end of the game, we got into creating shots that weren’t there,” Bonds noted. “It was just a night when we didn’t make shots. The other big difference was the fact that Bowling Green was so physical on the glass. They out rebounded us by 17 rebounds, the first time all year we were hammered on the boards.”
Still, Bonds pointed out that his team was within striking distance at the end.
“We gave up 17 offensive rebounds and we shoot as poorly as we did, and you are looking at a one or two possession game late, there is still a lot of positives,” Bonds explained. “This is something we will grow from. There is nobody in that locker room that has hung their heads. We are going to get better from this game, there is no doubt in my mind.”
After the Patriots struck first to grab an early 2-0 lead, Bowling Green used a pair of 3-point baskets to open the game strong. After Purple Turner Buttry canned a three at the 2:42 mark, Bowling Green led 10-4. AC-S answered. Two 3-pointers from Rippy and a third off the fingertips of Jax Cooper enabled the Patriots to close the first quarter on a 13-3 run and open a 17-13 lead. For the quarter, AC-S was seven of 14 from the floor. Keep that in mind.
A pair of Rippy free throws in the first minute of the second lifted the Patriots to a 19-13 lead. However, things quickly turned as Bowling Green erupted for a 19-1 run that shifted the flow of the game. Over the next five minutes, Bowling Green score 11 unanswered points, capped off by Isiah Mason’s jumper at the 1:32 mark that gave the Purples a 24-19 lead. Mason Shirley made one of two free throws with 1:26 left in the half---a point that was quickly answered by another jumper from Mason. By the break, AC-S was 0-10 from the floor in the quarter and trailed 26-20.
The Patriots misfired on their first three shots of the third period; Bowling Green did not. Conner Cooper’s pair of free throws at the 5:34 mark of the third staked the Purple Ghosts to a 32-20 lead. Shirley’s jumper at the 4:50 point of the period ended an 11-minute stretch in which the Patriots did not make a single basket. The teams exchanged baskets the rest of the third period before a hoop from Cayden Ross in the final 22 seconds pulled the Patriots to within eight, 42-34, with a quarter remaining.
A Jax Cooper block, followed by a Bryce Carter lay-in energized AC-S early in the fourth and pulled the Patriots to within six. The Purples countered, starting a two-minute stretch in which the Bowling Green lead shifted between six and eight points. Bowling Green retook a double-digit lead, thanks to a string of offensive rebounds giving the Purples second and third chances to score.
After Jordan Dingle was fouled and made a pair of free throws at the 4:25 mark, Bowling Green led 50-40 but the Patriots had one last charge. However, unlike the Warren Central game in early January---a game in which AC-S erased a 10-point Dragon lead in the fourth---a gallant comeback attempt fell short,
A three from Shirley---only the fourth three of the game in the Patriots’ 24 attempts---would be answered by the Purples. Shirley connected on a jumper and moments later, a pair of Jax Cooper free throws and a steal and score from Cooper had the Patriots within 2:33 remaining. Following a missed free throw by Buttry on the front end of a bonus, the Patriots had a chance to pull closer. However, a missed shot followed. Rippy regained possession for AC-S, after bravely taking a charge on the defensive end of the court. The Pats couldn’t capitalize as an AC-S turnover followed.
Bowling Green pushed the lead back to seven. Rippy hit one of two free throws and then Cooper stole the ball and scored, pulling AC-S to within four, 56-52, with 1:18 left. AC-S would get the ball back---not once but twice---with opportunities to pull closer. Both times the possessions ended with missed shots. Three free throws from Cobi Hutcherson in the final half minute sealed the win for the Purples.
With an embedded zero for 13 shooting stretch and four for 24 from three-point range, the Patriots finished the game 19-50 from the floor (38%). At the line, AC-S was 12-16. Bowling Green was 20-50 from the floor and 15-21 at the line. Cooper led the way with 15 points with Rippy and Shirley adding 13.
Rebounding was a huge factor. The Purples (18-3) grabbed 42 rebounds, including 17 on the offensive glass. AC-S finished with 25 rebounds---with Stamper leading the way with seven. Bowling Green finished with 14 second-chance points.
The loss ended a week that started with a 73-66 win against a solid Greenwood team Tuesday night in Bowling Green. AC-S recorded the win in part due to a pair of 20-plus efforts from Rippy and Shirley.
Rippy led all scorers with 27 points on seven of 13 shooting from the field---including six three-point shots. The senior was seven of eight at the foul line and dished out four assists. Shirley added 23 points, also making seven field goals. Shirley also grabbed nine rebounds and handed out six assists. Stamper added nine points and eight rebounds.
The Patriots led 13-10 following the first eight minutes and opened a commanding 17-point lead, 31-14, late in the first half. The Gators used a 20-15 third period to close the gap before AC-S outgunned the hosts 28-24 in the final frame to record the win.
AC-S went 24-44 from the floor for a 54.5% shooting clip compared to Greenwood’s 20-60 (33.3%) mark. The Patriots sank 13 of 17 free throws while the Gators went 16 of 22 at the stripe. AC-S claimed 36 rebounds compared to 32 for Greenwood. Luckily, AC-S was able to post the win despite surrendering 14 offensive boards and allowing 19 second-chance Greenwood points.
This week will be a busy week for AC-S---now ranked second in Region 4 in the Daily News Media poll. Friday, the Patriots (17-4) host Monroe County (8-11) in District 15 action. The game will also be homecoming since last Friday’s scheduled game with Clinton County was canceled---thus postponing homecoming to this week. Monday, the final regular season District game will have AC-S entertaining Glasgow (14-8). A win in either game will secure AC-S the top seed in the District tournament next month. Tuesday, the Patriots step outside of the region for a game at Edmonson County (9-11).