Shorthanded Beavers falter late against Pratt

SCHS senior Robby Strube drives the baseline and prepares to put up a shot during Friday's league action against Pratt.

By Rod Haxton, editor

A short-handed Scott Community High School boy’s basketball team knew they were facing long odds going into Friday’s game with state-ranked Pratt.

Yes, the Beavers (11-5, 3-3) dropped their second game of the season to Pratt - losing both by an average of 16.5 points. But just as when the two met earlier, it was either team’s game to win with less than three minutes to play.

In fact, the Beavers had to be feeling pretty good considering they entered the Mid-State Activities Association game, without senior Jorden Funk in the low post due to a concussion.

Less than seven minutes into the game junior guard Ron Baker was riding the bench with his second foul and just before halftime senior guard Alex Swan hobbled off the floor with a seriously sprained ankle that sidelined him for the remainder of the evening.

And the game was still tied 36-36 following Mason Turner’s three-pointer with only :26 left in the third period.

“The boys played hard, but we can play smarter,” says head coach Glenn O’Neil. “Pratt’s a very good team, but each time we play them we get a better measure of their physical ability. I’d like to think we’ve put a little worry into the back of their minds.”

Whether or not the Greenbacks are concerned about Scott City, the Beavers may have gained an added measure of confidence knowing they could be missing so many elements from their starting lineup and still keep pace with Pratt.

Perhaps even more impressive was Scott City’s ability to erase an 11-0 deficit after the first 5-1/2 minutes and take a 22-21 lead on Alex Swan’s basket in the lane with 1:51 to play in the first half. Swan was having his best game of the season with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field in the first half.

“With Ron in foul trouble Alex stepped up his play. That’s the Alex we’re looking for on offense,” said O’Neil.

Swan had just pulled down his second rebound when that momentum took a turn.

As Swan landed and began to turn up the court with a defensive rebound, he crumpled onto the floor with a badly sprained ankle. Instead of an opportunity to extend their lead, the Beavers fell behind when a Pratt player picked up the loose ball and made an easy layup.

The Beavers never regained the lead, though they did cut a seven point deficit to a single point, 29-28, following consecutive baskets by Baker. After being limited to just three first half points because of foul trouble, Baker responded with 17 in the second half, including eight consecutive points during the third period.

Scott City’s second half comeback was complete following Turner’s game-tying trey, only to see Pratt’s Matt Swank hit back-to-back treys to end the third period and start the fourth quarter. Swank was a thorn in the side of the Beavers all night, finishing with five treys and a game high 24 points.

“We had some bad (defensive) rotations that gave them some open looks, plus Swank shot the ball very well from the three-point line,” says O’Neil.

Pratt’s second 11-0 scoring run of the night put them on top 47-36 midway into the final period. Baker hit a trey with 2:33 remaining to make it a 51-45 game, but the Greenbacks were able to take advantage of a couple of turnovers and 8-of-10 free throw shooting to score 16 points in the final 2-1/2 minutes.