The Allen County-Scottsville Patriots stand 1-1 after the first week of the coach Nick Chaykowsky era. AC-S routed South Warren 63-30 last week in the season opener before dropping a 53-45 decision Friday night at Russellville.
The Patriots
recorded an opening game win for the first time in six years with the solid win
last week at South Warren. Junior Brett Rippy scored 22 points and junior
Cayden Ross added a career-best 13 points to help the Patriots post the
33-point win.
“We needed to dictate the way the game was played,” coach Chaykowsky said. “We needed to be patient and get the ball inside. I saw multiple times when the ball went inside and then back out and we were successful on those opportunities.”
Coach Chaykowsky was pleased with his squad in their first game on the
court.
. “Our guard play was solid, our senior leadership was solid, and overall our intensity from horn to horn was tremendous,” Coach Chaykowsky explained. “Defensively, we played a tremendous game.”
The Patriots shot the ball extremely well---a stat that helped AC-S
build a 15-7 lead after the first quarter and 29-17 lead at halftime. In the
second 16 minutes, the Patriots went eight of 11 from the floor and finished
the game shooting 65.5%, making 19 of 29 shots. At the foul line, AC-S went 17
of 23. The Patriots outrebounded the Spartans 27-20.
The Patriot defense held the Spartans to 25.6% shooting for the game.
AC-S also held the hosts to five points in the third frame and eight points in
the final eight minutes.
Rippy’s night included hitting six of nine shots---including four three-point baskets---to lead the AC-S offense Tuesday. Rippy also was a perfect six-for-six at the free throw stripe. Ross went four-for-five from the floor, five-for-five at the line, and recorded four steals.
In addition to Rippy and Ross, junior Bryce Carter added a career-best
nine points. Senor Marcus Carter contributed eight points, had six rebounds,
and dished out four assists. Sophomore Owen Stamper, senior Sam Clarke, and
juniors Camden Carver and Chase Ward also scored in the game.
The Patriot defense held the Spartans to 25.6% shooting for the game.
AC-S also held the hosts to five points in the third frame and eight points in
the final eight minutes.
Friday, the game plan was similar---dictate the tempo and game flow. However, the Patriots’ inability to score early and foul trouble resulted in AC-S playing from behind for most of the game. Russellville built an 11-4 lead after the first frame and stretched their advantage to 22-12 by halftime. The Panthers scored early in the third quarter to build a 24-12 lead---their biggest of the night.
To the Patriots’ credit, a comeback was in order. Baskets from Ross, Bryce Carter, and Owen Stamper sliced the Panters’ lead in half by the 5:08 mark of the third. Defensive pressure led to stops with the offense staying hot. When Sam Clarke scored at the 1:50 mark of the third, the Patriots were within two, 26-24. The Panthers countered with 7-4 run to lead 33-28 with a quarter remaining.
AC-S continued to claw and scratch their way back. Four points from
Rippy trimmed the Russellville lead to one early in the fourth. Russellville
stretched the lead to six before Marcus Carter upped his offense.
Carter---forced to stay on the bench much of the first half and third quarter
fue to foul trouble---followed with a three-point play, and back-to-back field goals.
His efforts pulled AC-S even at 40 with 4:24 remaining.
Russellville countered with a 5-0 run in the next two minutes. Ross’s three-point play cut the panthers lead to two, 45-43, briefly. Russellville added their own three-point play to stretch the lead to five with 1:18 left. After Rippy sank a pair of free throws, the Panthers made free throws down in the final minute to post the win.
“It was a three-point game with just over a minute left,” coach Chaykowsky recalled. “We needed to get a stop and execute. It’s a learning process, it’s called learning how to win.”
The coach added that he was stilled pleased with phases of the Patriot’s game.
“I was pleased with our effort and intensity,” coach Chaykowsky said. “We need to continue to get better with our execution so we can get the shots we want, especially in late game moments.”
After struggling offensively in the first half, the Patriots made 11 of
15 field goals (73.3%) in the final 16 minutes. For the game, AC-S was 17-32
for 53.1 percent---a second consecutive outing that the Patriots had made more
shots than they missed. At the foul line, the Patriots sank 11 of 13 shots for
a 84.6 percentage. AC-S outrebounded Russellville 33-32. Turnovers were a
problem for AC-S as the Patriots finished with 24---turnovers that led to 16
Panther points.
AC-S was led in scoring by Rippy. The junior went two of six from the floor but six of seven at the line to finish with 10 points. Marcus Carter added nine points in just 7:42 of court time due his foul problems. Sam Clarke chipped in eight points while Owen Stamper added a career-high seven points. Rippy also led AC-S with six rebounds and four assists. Clarke also grabbed five rebounds.