North Callaway’s win on Tuesday began with a solid starting five.
Four of the five boys initially playing against Eastern Missouri Conference foe Wright City were seniors, and the Thunderbirds …
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North Callaway’s win on Tuesday began with a solid starting five.
Four of the five boys initially playing against Eastern Missouri Conference foe Wright City were seniors, and the Thunderbirds ended up winning 57-36 on Senior Night. North Callaway (14-9, 6-1 EMO) shot ahead 14-2 and led for the rest of the game.
Head coach Matt Miller said the seniors gave the team a boost early in the game and defense carried the Thunderbirds to victory. He said Dalton Brewer and Austin Brown provide North Callaway good production on the wing in the team’s usual starting lineup, Zac Craghead usually provides good minutes as the “heart and soul” of the team and Ajay Roberts did well in his first varsity start.
“We went five in, five out for, not the whole night, but for stretches,” Miller said. “We got 10 guys that can play. On Senior Night, playing those four seniors together just made sense.”
Miller said it is difficult to find adequate playing time for all of his players, which is a good problem to have, but the seniors definitely earned their time on the floor. Brewer had 10 points and two 3-pointers, Roberts finished with eight points and two 3-pointers, and Craghead scored six points.
Roberts couldn’t play this season until after Christmas but made his presence felt with two 3-pointers in the first quarter.
“He’s taken the minutes that he’s gotten, and he’s earning more minutes every game,” Miller said. “It could be really easy for a senior to complain about not starting or whatever minutes they’re getting, but he’s just been a great teammate.”
Jamarion Glover led with 11 points, Brodee Biggers had eight points and four rebounds and Blevins added six points to make for a balanced scoring night for North Callaway.
It was a balanced night on defense as well. Wright City (5-14, 1-7 EMO) is the fourth opponent the Thunderbirds have held to under 40 points this season.
“Our defense was a big part of it,” Brewer said. “Usually, I feel like we’re not that aggressive. Tonight, we played great and good defense turns into good offense.”
Brewer said Miller tells them to keep being aggressive and emphasizes defense. In North Callaway’s previous game, it led Elsberry going into the fourth quarter at home but lost 58-57 for the first conference loss of the season.
Miller said North Callaway let Elsberry back in the game and wanted to see much better defense after that. He said the good practice carried over into the game.
“We talked all year about how we’re going to find ways to score,” Miller said. “We’ve got talented guys, good shooters and we can get the ball inside. If our defense is locked in for four quarters, we’re dang hard to beat.”
Miller said this is a good group of seniors who have been through a lot in their lives, going through adversity and “life-altering things” that they responded to with "perseverance and grit.” Whenever he sees them at practice, he sees four kids with smiles on their faces and a good work ethic in their hearts.
“They’re a joy to be around in practice,” Miller said. “There are always positive attitudes out of all four of them. There’s never been complaining but just great teammates, and I love coaching guys like that.”
Brewer said the team loves to have fun and celebrate each other when someone does something good. For example, Brewer made a windmill motion to lift the ball into the rim in the second half for a clutch bucket. He said moments like that “gets everybody excited and more hyped.”
While Brewer said he didn’t join this group until later in middle school after they played together in YMCA ball, he said he has had so much fun with them and Miller.
“I love how Miller coaches,” Brewer said. “I love all my teammates. My favorite part (about this program) is my teammates and playing for Miller. I like our environment.”
Despite the one conference loss, North Callaway can still clinch a conference title if they win their final three games, which includes two teams vying for the crown as well. Bowling Green will be waiting in the regular season finale, but Montgomery County (11-10, 4-2 EMO) is North Callaway’s Courtwarming opponent at 2 p.m. Saturday.
“I told the boys (after the Elsberry game) that, ‘As disheartening as a loss that was, we still control our own destiny,’” Miller said. “We don’t help or need anybody else to lose or be score watching. We got the job done tonight and then we’re looking to Montgomery.”
