The Community R-6 boys are back at full strength.

Community R-6 vs Cairo Photo Gallery

That was the only good news last week after the Trojans lost 75-44 to North Shelby on Thursday at home and then lost 83-36 to Central Activities Conference foe Cairo on home court Friday. In Community’s chance against the top seed in districts next week, Cairo finished with 22 steals and had 10 3-pointers in the regular season finale.

Head coach Kody Asquith, who wasn't spared in the team’s recent bout with sickness, said the team was at full strength just a day before against North Shelby. Asquith said he started feeling normal again the day before after having the flu like many of his players did this month. Still, Cairo’s defense was as tough as it was in Community’s first 66-23 loss to them this season.

“For both boys and girls, they are a good ballclub with the same head coach (Brian Winkler),” Asquith said. “What works for one is going to work for the other. They pressured the ball full court pretty well and caused a lot of transition turnovers.”

Just like in the Lady Trojans’ 65-23 loss, the Trojans (3-21, 2-8 CAC) were down by at least 30 points at halftime, 56-14, and had to play with a running clock for the entire fourth quarter. Shaun Luecke led Cairo (17-9, 8-2 CAC) with 27 points and seven 3-pointers, Kaden Winkler had 17 points and three 3-pointers, and Clayton Messer finished with 10 points.

Luecke had plenty of looks for the perimeter to make Community’s deficit grow even faster. Asquith said he is a unique shooter that is tough to account for on defense.

“The way he shoots the ball, it’s really hard to guard him,” Asquith said. “He really brings the ball up a little bit more. You really have to be tall to contest.”

KaTavyn Wheeler hit all three of his 3-pointers in the third quarter to lead Community with nine points, five assists and three steals. Rett Curtis had eight points and six rebounds. 

It was in that third quarter that the Trojans scored double digit points the first time, displaying the some positive spurts of play Asquith saw the previous night against North Shelby. He added that having most school days off during the week due to weather might have hurt the team’s effort. Now that they are all together again, Asquith would like to see a good team effort.

“In spurts, we scored the ball well and moved the ball well,” Asquith said. “We lacked a lot of effort last night, and that hurt us.”

Community’s first-round game in the Class 1 District 10 tournament is at 8 p.m. tonight against Columbia Independent (8-8), who the Trojans have beaten 55-41 in districts the last two years. Asquith said “that sickness went through and hit our team hard” but now has to focus on the postseason.

“It really depends on the night,” Asquith said. “Even though the score didn’t reflect it tonight, there were things like moving the ball well at certain points. This is what we’re working towards. Going into postseason, every team is right back down to 0-0. Hopefully, we can spark something up on Monday.”