The Van-Far boys’ defense was in the zone on Friday night.

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The Indians hosted their Eastern Missouri Conference opener against Louisiana and pretty much sealed the game with a 22-4 first quarter and 44-16 first half on the way to a 67-31 win. They stay an undefeated 6-0 going into next week’s Centralia Invitational after displaying their best defense so far with 21 steals and nine field goals allowed.

Head coach Pat Connaway said he saw much more pressure from his players than he had the previous five games. He knew it would take some adjustment after the football players had a late season in the playoffs and based on the fact Van-Far (6-0) has transitioned from full-court defense to a 2-2-1 zone.

“We’re starting to figure it out. We’re not quite there but are starting to figure it out,” Connaway said. “We’re starting to force traps, we’re starting to take away the next pass and it’s creating some tempo.”

Connaway has mentioned playing defense without fouling will be important with less depth at the start of the season and his guards definitely collected the steals. Pacey Reading scored 26 of his 29 points in the first half, hitting three 3-pointers but also recording five steals. Gaven Gaston had seven of the team’s 16 steals in the first half and finished with 8 takeaways.

Those two guards and others on the team that had multiple steals on Friday like Kasen Christian, Evan Utterback and Carson Huff can use length to cover opponents instead of quickness. Van-Far then can cover the floor in transition, which helped Christian score nine points, Utterback finish with eight points and Huff have seven points.

“They have zone principles instead of man,” Connaway said. “In man, it seems we want to body up and reach too much and we get fouls 80 feet away from the basket. Our top two guards are channeling to the sideline inviting a trap and then we’re rotating to take away passing lanes.

“(Gaven) is a big strong kid, and he’s quick,” Connaway said. “It’s getting him to realize his potential because he really is our key.”

Connaway has much faith in Gaston’s role on defense and eventually more on offense because he and the others need to be there to support the leading scorer Reading. Van-Far is “blessed with four or five kids that can go to double figures every night,” Connaway said, and Gaston can make the offense go at the point guard position.

Reading is on a roll offensively, scoring in double figures four straight games and at least 20 points in three straight games. His season-high happened against Louisiana (1-2) as he showed his versatility by knocking down 3-pointers as usual but also scoring inside. 

“We hit some shots tonight that we haven’t,” Reading said. “We struggled and part of that was football. We had one week in the gym. We’re getting back in the gym so we’re going to get back to shooting better.”

Connaway said Reading did struggle in the first few games. He said Van-Far lost several talented seniors last season but has the kids to fill those roles this season.

“He was putting a lot of pressure on himself to score and be the guy,” Connaway said. “His role is still the same. We’re just trying to get Pacey to be Pacey. Tonight, he wasn’t hesitant on shots and he pulled threes.”

Connaway said Van-Far is surrounded by bigger schools in the Centralia Invitational field as one of only two Class 2 schools along with Salisbury. The Indians still want to win at least two games this week like they did last year and need Friday’s elements to be present this week. 

Reading said “defense was the biggest factor” for sure against Louisiana and believes it can remain a factor starting this week in Centralia.

“I think it’s getting to that point,” Reading said. “Obviously, we’re still early and haven’t been to the gym a whole lot, but we’re getting there. Our press worked well tonight, and that helped us a lot.”