The Community R-6 boys were within five points at one point during Wednesday’s home opener.
The Trojans lost 62-43 to Marion County (2-1) after allowing the Mustangs to steal the ball 13 …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous website, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
The Community R-6 boys were within five points at one point during Wednesday’s home opener.
The Trojans lost 62-43 to Marion County (2-1) after allowing the Mustangs to steal the ball 13 times and outrebound them by 10. Community (1-2) pulled within five points in the second quarter before the lead grew to as large as 20 points.
Head coach Chris Ellersieck said not practicing in a week due to the Thanksgiving holiday and winter weather cancellations showed. Marion County turned quick Community mistakes around for points.
“We had a little trouble with some of their pressure,” Ellersieck said. “I knew it was a grind-it-out type of game, I knew it was going to be physical and I knew it was going to be a dogfight from the very beginning.”
Ellersieck said the Trojans did “some things well” but “just didn’t do them as well at the right time.” He said they didn’t take good enough care of the basketball, and Marion County “cleaned the boards on the defensive end” while repeatedly going in the pain against Community’s defense.
Community “didn’t give in” as it came close to a single-deficit deficit in the second half multiple times when it hit a 3-pointer, forced a turnover and was patient finding the right shot on offense. However, Marion County made Community string mistakes together.
“We’re getting better, but we’re not quite there yet,” Ellersieck said. “Marion County is a really good ballclub so you can’t take anything away from them. It just wasn’t our night tonight.”
KaTavyn Wheeler led Community with 15 points, six rebounds and three 3-pointers. Rett Curtis followed with seven points, seven rebounds and two blocks, Clayton Eikel had seven points, and Brett Beamer had six points and two 3-pointers.
Dylan Stephens led Marion County with 25 points, four steals and three 3-pointers, Paden Olson had 12 points, 12 rebounds and five steals, and Tyler Schimming added 14 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Wheeler was actually shut out in the first half but helped Community fight back in the third quarter with 10 points.
“He had a really good second half,” Ellersieck said. “Brett kept us in it by hitting some threes in the first half. We’ve got to get a little more production out of our bigs on that end.”
Community secured the first win in its first season with Ellersieck after winning 53-30 at district foe Wellsville-Middletown. To bounce back positively from this recent loss starting with a 7:30 p.m. Friday home game against Mark Twain (0-1), Ellersieck said it will be a learning process.
“We’ve played three basketball games with a new coach,” Ellersieck said. “Seven days without a practice is tough. It’s hard to keep any consistency or prepare very well. We’ll do a better job next time out.”
