02-09-08
BY JACK BULLOCK
WALTONVILLE - The Waltonville Shootout had three games scheduled for Saturday night.

However only one of the games turned into a close contest.

The host Spartans used their usual outside offensive accuracy and connected on seven consecutive free throws in the fourth quarter to hold off Clay City 64-49 in the middle game of the three game set.

Madison romped past Marissa-Coulterville in the opening game while Mounds Meridian handled Woodlawn handily in the final game.

Waltonville kept Clay City off of the offensive boards allowing just three offensive rebounds in the win to improve to 17-9 on the season.

Busting the Wolves zone by nailing eight 3-point shots – Waltonville took the lead early and gradually pulled away from Clay City in the final period.

“We rebounded really well and when we do that and shoot the ball well we can do some things,” said Denault. “That is something that we haven't done all year. We have been behind on the glass all year until lately but the kids have picked it up. We have worked hard in practice and have gotten them to box out. They have responded the last couple of games.”

Justin Lewis and Skyler Witges led the Spartans with 19 and 17 points respectively.

Lewis hit five 3-pointers while Witges nailed a trio of shots from behind the arc.

Gavin Bassett added 16 points for Waltonville who rebounded from a loss to Sesser-Valier the night before to pick up an important win heading into the final week of the regular season.

“If I had it to do again I would have probably came out and played “Triangle-and-Two” on them,” said Clay City head coach Adam Ellis – referring to a defensive scheme to try and contain Lewis and Witges. “We knew that Lewis and Witges were the guys to stop. On Lewis a few times we got a hand up but we didn't close him out. He really hurt us in the first quarter.”

Lewis had the hot hand early for Waltonville as this 6-foot-3 sophomore hit three of his long range shots to give the Spartans their first big scoring run.

Clay City (15-7) also has a kid named Lewis.

Cody Lewis had 12 points for the Wolves and he - and teammates' Blake Fehrenbacher and Evan Bloehs (13 points each) - topped the teams' scoring effort.

This Lewis hit a 3-pointer with 2:36 to go in the first quarter to stake CC to its biggest lead at 11-7.

But on back-to-back offensive trips Waltonville's Lewis drilled home 3-pointers from the left wing.

His second trey put Waltonville up 12-11.

Clay City would never lead in the game again despite Cody Lewis closing the quarter with another basket to add up to seven of the Wolves 13 first quarter points as they trailed 16-13.

In the second quarter it was Witges' turn from behind the arc.

The 6-foot sophomore lefty stung Clay City with two 3-pointers with the first one ripping the twine just :13 into the period.

Hitting from the left corner Witges gave the Spartans a 19-13 lead.

By the time Witges and Lewis connected again from behind the arc – Waltonville pushed its lead to 25-16 at the 4:58 mark.

Fehrenbacher picked up five second quarter points including a conventional three-point play after being fouled by Derek Reeves.

But Bassett and Jason Cook got into the offensive rhythm when Clay City was forced to extend its defense to try and stop the Waltonville outside onslaught.

Bassett drove to the basket for a score and Cook hit a wide open 15-footer from the left corner to give the Spartans a 33-21 lead.

The Clay City Lewis drove the baseline for a bucket to close the first half with the Wolves down 33-23.

Bassett scored seven of his points in the second quarter to keep Waltonville in front.

He scored six straight points in a little under over minute to push the Spartans out to a 43-30 lead while forcing a Clay City timeout during the run.

The Wolves had but one last scoring drive in them that began with 1:30 left in the third quarter.

Lewis and Bloehs combined for six consecutive points to close the quarter at 45-40 Waltonville.

A Lewis move to the basket resulted in a made field goal and a subsequent free throw attempt after being fouled by Alex DuReitz.

Lewis missed the toss but Bloehs grabbed the rebound and scored.

Bloehs added a steal and fast break lay up that just beat the third quarter horn.

Waltonville put the game on ice with an early fourth quarter run fueled by Lewis with five points and those seven straight free throws made.

Clay City picked a bad time to go into an offensive slump. The Wolves committed four turnovers and missed six shots from the floor.

“Mentally we just made too many mistakes out there tonight,” added Ellis. “We played well in spurts but for 32 minutes we didn't play our best basketball.”

Witges hit six of the seven free throws in that run

By the time the Spartans' Brock Wheatley missed the second of a two-shot free throw opportunity – Waltonville had put the outcome to rest at 61-49.

The Spartans were 22-of-47 from the floor and hit on 8-of-15 shots from behind the arc.

Clay City shot well from the field (17-of-35) but were crushed in rebounding as Waltonville won that battle substantially at 29-15.

“They (Clay City) are a good team that has all the tools,” added Denault. “They have quick guards that can handle the ball, they have some shooters and some big kids that can get to the basket. I think that we played awfully well both times that we played them and it took that to beat them. They (Clay City) do a lot of things well and I am happy with the win.”

Clay City (49) - Lynn 0 0 2-2 2, Allison 1 0 2-2 4, Frank 0 1 0-0 3, Fehrenbacher 5 0 3-3 13, Lewis 3 1 3-5 12, Duvall 1 0 1-2 3, Bloehs 5 0 2-5 12
2FG-15, 3FG-2, FT-13-19, PF-15.
Waltonville (64) - Reeves 1 0 1-4 3, Bassett 7 0 2-5 16, Wheatley 2 0 1-2 5, Witges 0 3 8-8 17, Cook 2 0 0-2 4, DuReitz 0 0 0-0 0, Lewis 2 5 0-0 19.
2FG-14, 3FG-8, FT-12-21, PF-13.
Fouled Out - None.
Technical Fouls - None.

MOUNDS MERIDIAN 78, WOODLAWN 42
In a game that on paper looked to be competitive Mounds Meridian shook loose from the pesky
Cardinals to post an impressive win in the shootout finale.

After leading just 18-12 at the end of the first quarter – Meridian took off on a 10-0 run midway through the second stanza to take a 40-23 halftime edge.

Isaiah Jones – a 6-foot-2 sophomore guard – topped the Bobcats' scoring with 17 points.

Marland Johnson scored 14 points for the Bobcats as this 6-foot-5 senior hit 6-of-7 field goals in the game for the 22-3 Meridian team that is the ABV Rankings number one for Carbondale Supersectional Area Class 1A teams.

Jeserick Pilgrim added 13 points for Coach Jeff Mandrell's club while Richard Brownlee and Malcolm Larry each chipped in 11 points.

Jones hit four 3-pointers in the first half for Meridian while Larry – a 6-foot-6 senior center – scored eight points on four in close baskets.

“We have size and jumping ability and we are playing better than we have,” said Coach Mandrell. “I told the kids that this is a good win because that's a good team and a good program. They (Woodlawn) are well coached. Even with good athletes you have to do things right to beat a team like that.”

Woodlawn (15-10) had eight players score points in the loss but none of them hit for double-digits.

Casey Hammond topped Coach Shane Witzel's squad with nine points.

Woodlawn played well in the first eight minutes.

Hammond hit a 3-pointer from the right wing to even the score at 8-apiece with 3:08 remaining.

But Larry took a lob pass from Pilgrim for a score in the paint to give Meridian back the advantage for good.

Jones and Pilgrim then hit consecutive 3-pointers to double the score at 16-8.

Ethan Shurtz scored in transition for Woodlawn and Hammond added another score to cut the margin to 16-12.

But Johnson was just getting warmed up as he closed the quarter with his second midrange shot from the right elbow.

Hammond scored again on a drive to the basket to open the second quarter to cut the lead to 18-14 but Johnson followed up with a conventional three-point play while being fouled by Shurtz.

That opened a 8-2 offensive run that quickly turned into a 20-4 march.

By the time Johnson scored his next basket on a drive in the lane – Meridian was in control at 38-20.

“I thought the pressure (defense) early on and even when we got beat back for scores occasionally we wanted that pace for the game,” said Coach Mandrell. “We knew that they would want to be patient and early on they were effective.”

A 12-2 run to begin the second half removed the drama from the nightcap.

The same group of point producers got the third quarter rolling for Meridian.

Jones, Johnson, Pilgrim and Larry combined for those 12 markers.

When Johnson and Pilgrim each converted offensive rebounds on back-to-back trips – Meridian led 56-27 with 3:45 remaining.

“They (Meridian) have a quality team, obviously, but I thought we were a bit tentative in the first quarter,” said Coach Witzel. “We talked about a gameplan to slow it down some offensively and it is hard to find positives. You can't simulate that kind of quickness in practice and I am hoping we come out of this a better team.”

The Bobcats finished off the game by outscoring Woodlawn 18-7 in the fourth quarter.

Randle Hite came off the Meridian bench to score eight fourth quarter points.

The Cats out-boarded their opponents 44-24.

Bronson Verhines added seven points to the Woodlawn totals while Jesse Hart and Jase Green chipped in six points apiece for Coach Witzel's club.

“We kind of let things get away from us in the second half,' added Witzel. “We just have to try and get past this and turn the page and get ready to play next week.”

Mounds Meridian (78) -Mercer 0 0 0-0 0, Hite 3 0 2-2 8, Brownlee 5 0 1-1 11, Johnson 6 0 2-3 14, Pilgrim 4 0 5-5 13, Jones 2 4 1-2 17, Smith 2 0 0-3 4, Larry 5 0 1-5 11.
2FG-27, 3FG-4, FT-12-21, PF-12.
Woodlawn (42) - B. Verhines 0 2 1-2 7, Shurtz 2 0 0-0 4, Boldt 2 0 0-1 4, Hart 2 0 2-2 6, Hammond 3 1 0-0 9, Simmons 0 0 0-0 0, D. Verhines 0 1 1-2 4, Gaither 1 0 0-0 2, Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Wehrheinm 0 0 0-0 0, Hails 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-14, 3FG-8, FT-12-21, PF-13.
Fouled Out - Boldt - Woodlawn.
Technical Fouls - None.

MADISON 97, MARISSA-COULTERVILLE 67
The Trojans outscored M-C 53-29 in the second half to break open a tight game.

Coach Anthony Smith's club improved its mark to 16-8 with the lopsided win.

Cornelius Chatt and Melvin Emerson hit for 22 points each in the victory.

Madison scorched the nets with a 41-of-68 shooting showing.

Jesse Green and Sidney Brown added 16 and 13 points respectively.

The Meteors (16-9) got 30 points from Craig Place along with 18 from Cale Wine.

Peter Pannier added 13 in the loss.