Down by a single point with just 17 ticks on the clock, Van-Far called a time out to set up a potential game-winner against Canton at the Palmyra Tournament on Thursday.

The Indians got the ball in and began to move the ball, searching for a lane. But a turnover at the wrong moment put an end to their aspirations. Canton translated this into a lay up and the ballgame, 62-59.

“Despite all the issues throughout the game we still had a chance to win,” said Van-Far head coach Pat Connaway. “We just didn’t execute enough down the stretch and didn’t get stops when we needed them.”

Much of the damage was self-inflicted. The Indians struggled at the line, hitting only 6 of 14 free throw attempts. And Canton was able to take advantage of Van-Far’s 15 turnovers.

Still, behind Nikos Connaway, Damon Long and LaTrell Wright, the Indians recovered from a difficult first quarter to grab a narrow 30-28 lead at the break. They clung to that small advantage through the third, with Wright pounding the boards.
But in the small Palmyra Middle School gym, Canton’s size and Van-Far’s youth came into play.

“We have to learn how to finish down the stretch,” Connaway reported. “I know we are young, but when you’re 14 games into the season we need to do a better job of executing.”

Nikos Connaway put 18 on the board for Van-Far, followed by Long with 14. Wright notched a double-double, with 13 rebounds to go with his 12 points on the night.

Hunter Scrogin pitched in with 9, Gage Gibson and Cayden Caldwell added 3 each. Preston Burnett had a solid night in the paint, picking up 5 rebounds.

Van-Far is 5-9 on the year.


Indians fall to Hannibal

The last six minutes proved fatal to the Indians as they took on Hannibal last Tuesday night in the Palmyra Tournament opener.

Van-Far had kept things within reach through the first half and pulled to within 2 points late in the third quarter. The larger 5A Hannibal squad took off on a 9-2 run to bring the period to a close.

Down 47-38 as the final period got underway, the undaunted Indians scrambled back to within 6 points with plenty of time on the clock.

“In the fourth we kept fighting,” coach Pat Connaway said. “We did a good job on the boards.”

But with six minutes remaining in the game, a technical foul swung momentum in Hannibal’s favor for good. The Pirates used the foul to rush out to a 10 point advantage and never relinquished the lead.

LaTrell Wright almost recorded a double-double, hitting for 15 points and pulling down 9 rebounds. D.J. Long scored 13 – to go with 6 boards – and Nikos Connaway added 9. Preston Burnett tacked on 7 for the Indians and Gage Gibson put up 3.

“We were down 7 at the break and we talked about coming out and being mentally tough,” coach Connaway said. “Tonight has to be a learning lesson for our young kids.”