Community R-6 boys pull down 56-53 win vs North Shelby

The Community R-6 boys grabbed Monday’s win and never let go.

The Trojans outrebounded North Shelby at home 30-24, limiting the Raiders’ opportunities on the offensive glass to win 56-53 to bounce back off a 54-50 conference loss Friday at home to Slater.

Eli Johnson and Mason Carroll each led Community (3-3) with 17 points, each knocking down three 3-pointers. Gavin Allen added 13 points and nine rebounds, and Tucker Robnett had seven points and eight rebounds.

Head coach Tad Shotten said last week’s Slater loss was indicative of the season the Trojans had all last year so it is nice that they are winning those close games now.

“We really needed the win — a gutsy win for us,” Shotten said. “We hadn’t been playing the best ball lately. We dropped a few games last week that we really thought we could have played better and won.”

After trailing 35-27 at halftime following a Jade Daniel 3-point — one of five instances Community fouled on a layup — Community locked down defensively by holding North Shelby without a field goal in the third quarter and limiting the Raiders to five in the second half.

The Trojans went on a 12-5 run to take a 41-40 lead with 1:21 left in the third quarter as Carroll knocked down a 3-pointer on the tail end of that run after scoring on a layup off an assist from Allen.

“We just stuck with our game plan,” Shotten said. “We’ve been really struggling to shoot the ball and put the ball in the basket so we’ve been having to rely on our defense. (North Shelby) did a good job in the first half of getting some offensive boards. In the second half, we did a much better job of taking those baskets away.”

Community had a 9-0 lead early but lost it by the end of the first quarter as North Shelby had a 3-pointer from leading scorer Brendyn McDaniel — led the Raiders with 20 points and six rebounds — and then a 3-point play from Daniel, who finished with 12 points, to make Community trail 16-15 after one.

North Shelby took advantage of some errant passes from the Trojans while also crashing the offensive glass to mount an 8-0 run for a 30-24 lead with 1:47 left until halftime. Gabe Orr laid in a steal and hit a 3-pointer to cap that run.

Like the first quarter, Community began the third quarter strong and ended it with an exclamation point as Eli Johnson drained a shot from half court at the buzzer — a highlight of many from the season-high performance by the junior.

“We were really celebrating (Eli) in the locker room,” Shotten said. “He’s been our third leading scorer, and I think he has to play that consistently. He’s definitely capable. He hasn’t got a lot of basketball experience yet, but he’s got natural ability.”

Shotten said Johnson coming through on offense as well defense is what the team has needed as Carroll has seen more attention. At this time last year, Shotten said Carroll had a hotter start but has had to learn how defense has adjusted to him, making him “smarter all-around as a basketball player.”

Having consistent production from players like Allen have given Carroll some time and Johnson emerging this season will certainly help, Shotten said, as Johnson has needed time as well. Johnson didn’t play any varsity minutes his freshman year, and when Shotten took over last season, an injured ankle kept him off the floor.

“He’s a hard worker so he worked in the summer,” Shotten said. “He didn’t get to play a lot of basketball (before that). He’s very raw. He’ll frustrate you sometimes but then he’ll do something that shows his potential too.”

Johnson would be called upon in the fourth quarter as he was 2-for-4 from the free throw line through the first three quarters but made all four of his free throws in the fourth quarter to maintain Community’s lead. He also drained a 3-pointer to give the Trojans a 48-47 lead prior to Allen scoring with one minute remaining.

Lady Trojans let loose of ball in 59-33 loss to North Shelby

The Community R-6 girls scored a season-low Monday at home against North Shelby.

The Lady Trojans lost a battle of undefeated teams 59-33 after turning the ball over 20 times against North Shelby’s 3-2 zone defense.

North Shelby (6-0) tallied 12 steals compared with Community’s 11 steals, but there were some bad passes that resulted in turnovers as well, head coach Bob Curtis said.

“We turned it over 20 times, so if you take 40 points off the board, you’re not going to win,” Curtis said. “We threw it all over the gym. It makes it difficult to compete if you don’t take care of the ball.”

Sarah Angel led Community (6-1) with 10 points, six rebounds and three steals, Alyssa Beamer followed with eight points on two 3-pointers, Olivia Kuda had six rebounds and three blocks, and Aaliyah Welch finished with three blocks.

For North Shelby, seven Lady Raiders scored as Caroline Linberger and Natalie Thrasher each had 15 points, with Linberger pulling down nine rebounds and Thrasher hitting three 3-pointers. Ava Williams had eight points and 13 rebounds, and Ciearra Kirby had six steals.

Community called its first timeout halfway through the first quarter after North Shelby took a 10-3 lead. The Lady Trojans kept throwing passes that hit the long limbs of the Lady Raiders. Alyssa Beamer hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 10-6, but the North Shelby defense that has been allowing 36 points per game this season was at the core of the run to make Community trailed 18-6 after one quarter.

The Lady Trojans had its best semblance of a comeback in the second quarter, going on a 7-2 run started by Angel’s steal and 3-point play at the other end. Welch and Kuda added some buckets while providing stout interior defense to cut North Shelby’s lead to as low as six points. Still, there were a few times Community was at the rim but couldn’t finish, including on several steals.

“Our effort was good in the second quarter,” Curtis said. “We missed some easy ones right at the rim. Everything was hard tonight. We just didn’t make shots, and when you don’t make shots and turn it over 20 times, you really get beat.”

North Shelby had its biggest lead at the end of the third quarter at 43-27 following a Thrasher 3-pointer. She drained another to begin the fourth quarter as Williams eclipsed double-digit rebounds and Linberger came close to doing the same.

Curtis said those instances were just one example of where the Lady Trojans were losing out on possessions but also noticed, whenever there was a scrum on the floor, the Lady Raiders usually came away with the ball.

“I thought they were just quicker to the ball,” Curtis said. “Every loose possession, they were coming up with it, getting a second shot. We just have to have a short memory. This one was kind of an energy and effort thing.”

Community (2-0 CAC) played at Central Activities Conference foe Sturgeon (2-3) on Tuesday night before facing North Callaway (4-3) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the Gary Filbert Classic at the Mexico Sports Complex in Mexico.

Tired Community R-6 girls rebound to 40-34 win at Sturgeon

One night after a tough battle with undefeated North Shelby, the Community R-6 girls were in a close battle Tuesday night with conference foe Sturgeon.

The Lady Trojans defeated their Central Activities Conference foe 40-34 thanks to 52 rebounds and a double-double of 16 points and 15 rebounds from Kylie Brooks and near double-double of nine points and eight rebounds by Olivia Kuda. Sarah Angel added five points and four assists.

Head coach Bob Curtis said the team might have been tired from the previous night as the Lady Trojans (7-1, 3-0 CAC) struggled shooting but “energy and effort on the glass” helped them come away with the victory.

“We were tired and banged up but relentless on the boards,” Curtis said. “Kylie Brooks had the answer every time Sturgeon made a run, and she was dominant in the paint all night.”

The Lady Trojans had a 29-23 lead at halftime and had good ball control in the fourth quarter, forcing Sturgeon (2-5, 1-1 CAC) to foul, Curtis said. He said Sturgeon is young and talented and athletic at the guard position.

Community faces North Callaway (5-3) at 1:30 p.m. today in the Gary Filbert Classic at the Mexico Sports Complex in Mexico.

Trojans play through shooting troubles, defeat Sturgeon 47-28

The Community R-6 boys posted their lowest scoring half of the season but were able to win on back-to-back nights.

The Trojans defeated Central Activities Conference foe Sturgeon 47-28 despite scoring their least amount of points in the first half.

Mason Carroll led Community (4-3, 2-1 CAC) with 18 points, Gavin Allen followed with nine points and Tucker Robnett had seven points.
Head coach Tad Shotten said playing on back-to-back nights resulted in a slow start of the Trojans but one he was proud they overcame.

“I think we didn’t fully have our legs under us, and we were sluggish to start,” Shotten said. “We got good looks but nothing would fall. Sturgeon (1-5, 0-1 CAC) plays really hard and are well-coached, so you always have to be ready when you play them.”

Community plays North Callaway (2-3) at 3:15 p.m. today in the Gary Filbert Classic at the Mexico Sports Complex in Mexico.