The game plan entering Monday’s rematch with Word of Life was pretty obvious for the Scott Community High School boys.
Shut down Mindaugas Kacinas.
After giving up 29 points to the 6-6 junior in their only loss of the season (60-49) back in mid-
December, the Beavers were anxious for a chance at redemption.
SCHS (11-1) put together a stellar defensive effort, holding Kacinas to a season-low seven points in a 56-45 win before a large and enthusiastic home crowd.
“The big thing was to contain No. 23 (Kacinas),” says junior guard Tyler Hess. “We were going to force the other players to do something and they just scored their normal six or seven points. They were big, but they were slow. We felt we could use our quickness to get to loose balls.”
This game was all about defensive intensity, rebounding and hustle.
And one might add that the Beavers weren’t intimidated by the Fire’s starting lineup of 6-6, 6-6, 6-8 and 6-10. After being limited to 12 points in their first meeting, 6-4 junior Drew Kite poured in a game high 23 points - 10 coming in the fourth quarter when the Beavers were in the midst of a 17-0 scoring run.
“I knew I couldn’t post up their big guys and make a move to the basket. I tried that twice and got fouled once and the other time I missed (the basket) completely,” says Kite. “I knew I would have to be quicker getting across the lane and getting the ball. I would have to get rebounds and outhustle them to the ball and that’s how I got my points tonight.”
For three quarters, this was a game that lived up to expectations.
Unlike their previous game when Word of Life bolted to a quick 10-0 lead, the Beavers held their ground. The only time that the Fire threatened to take command of the game was early in the second period when they used a 10-2 scoring blitz to open up a 17-11 advantage. SCHS answered with a 9-0 scoring run of their own for a 20-17 lead and the home crowd knew it was in for an exciting game.
Word of Life (18-5) owned a 24-23 lead at the half and extended their advantage to three points in the third period, but were unable to shake loose of the Beavers who finally tied the score, 34-34, on Brett O’Neil’s backdoor cut in the final moments of the third period.
Little did anyone realize that would be the start of an incredible defensive stretch in which Word of Life was outscored 17-0.
O’Neil opened the fourth quarter by driving the baseline for a basket and the Beavers never trailed again. Kite followed with a rebound and putback along with another basket after getting an assist from O’Neil that had the crowd on its feet as the Beavers built their largest lead of the night, 40-34.
SCHS then took advantage of their offensive quickness to rip the Fire defense and open up a 49-34 lead following Kite’s basket with 1:53 remaining in the game.
Word of Life made a final run at the Beavers with six unanswered points that cut the deficit to 49-40 at the 1:25 mark, but SCHS held onto the win by scoring their final seven points at the charity stripe.
Defense the Key
This impressive win came down to defense and Scott City’s ability to make Kacinas a non-factor by holding him well below his average of 25.3 points per game.
“We knew the offense runs through (Kacinas),” says head coach Glenn O’Neil, “but they also have other talented players. By slowing him down, I felt we threw their offense off rhythm just because they count on him to do so much.”
Hess started the game defending the Fire’s leading scorer and Trey O’Neil came off the bench to assume that role for most of the night, along with some assistance from junior guard Anthony Wilson.
“With the match-up zone it’s easier to run what looks like a junk defense because you’re matched up with the guy anyway. It wasn’t a traditional box-and-one,” explains the head coach. “It was a true match-up where we matched up really, really tight with (Kacinas). Those three guys were like an extra t-shirt for him and they did it, for the most part, without fouling.”
“He’s like a Ron Baker,” says T. O’Neil, referring to the former SCHS guard who is now playing at Wichita State University. “You just have to stay by his side all the time and have your hands on him every time he puts the ball on the floor. And my teammates were there to help me when he did drive (to the basket).”
Kacinas only made three trips to the free throw line where he was 3-of-5. On the flip side, his frustration was evident as he picked up three fouls while coming over the top of SCHS players for rebounds.
Scott City’s defense drew a standing ovation from an appreciative crowd when it held the Fire scoreless for 8:04. Word of Life was just 2-of-14 from the field in the final period and didn’t score their first field goal until the 1:25 mark.
“I don’t think it was a matter of them running out of gas in the fourth quarter. I think our defense played that well,” adds O’Neil.
Word of Life was just 14-of-47 from the field (30%) and only 14-of-26 at the stripe. SCHS overcame a cold night from beyond the three-point line (1-of-11) to hit 18-of-44 from two-point range.
Kite, who was 9-of-12 at the line, had a double-double with 23 points and 16 rebounds, while B. O’Neil added 15 points and six assists.
“We really appreciated the large crowd and their support,” adds Coach O’Neil. “That’s what the home court advantage is all about.”