Van-Far head coach Pat Connaway emphasizes to never take a team for granted in districts.

Van-Far vs Silex Districts Photo Gallery

The Indians began their Class 2 District 5 tournament on Monday in Sturgeon with a 71-37 win against Eastern Missouri Conference foe Silex, finishing with 16 steals and three double-digit scorers.

Van-Far (17-10) has dropped 70 points on the Owls (3-20) before this season, but Connaway remembers a district upset at a time when his son and leading scorer Nikos Connaway — who finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds and six steals to lead the Indians — was about three years old. It was a No. 2 and No. 7 matchup, like Van-Far’s contest with Silex.

“The kids were focused as the last thing we want to do is take Silex lightly,” Connaway said. “I kept reminding them it was several years ago — Nikos and them were real young, he always traveled with us — we had a district tournament in Clopton. Clopton was the 2 seed and Scotland County was the 7 and beat Clopton on their home court. You don’t forget when it comes to this time of year, and you know what it takes to win.”

Having the right mindset is important when it is one-and-done during district play, Connaway said, and Van-Far’s recent mindset of sharing the ball has helped them win seven straight games. Every Indian starter had points by the end of the second quarter after Cody Smith found Carter Jennings twice in transition for open layups in the post, making it 31-16 at the time.

Pacey Reading followed Nikos Connaway in scoring with 16 points and also was right behind him with five steals. Smith’s seven-point third quarter secured a double-digit night for him as she finished with 15 points.

After Van-Far carried a 36-18 lead into halftime, Silex knocked down the first field goals of the second half before the Indians erased any comeback effort with a 12-3 run that snowballed into a 59-31 advantage after the third quarter. Following Van-Far's one 3-pointer in the first half, Reading hit two 3-pointers as part of an eight-point quarter to counter what Connaway admits wasn’t the strongest defensive third quarter for his team.

“Do not give a team like that with shooters a chance,” Connaway said. “Pacey is really doing a good job of leading things finally. He is a freshman, but he is seeing those long passes — he jumped several of them. Everyone knows he can shoot the ball, but he is doing so much more like getting to the rim.”

When the postseason arrives, Connaway said freshmen don’t always understand how big each game truly is, but Reading seems to have understood and his lone senior Smith and the juniors also did a good job in leading.

Nikos Connaway was a big reason why the Indians started strong early with a 9-0 run, starting with a 3-pointer by Gage Gibson. After that shot went down, Van-Far dominated possession of the ball as about every defensive rebound and turnover turned into points or at least a good scoring opportunity. Connaway had a double-double at the end of the first half at 15 points and 10 rebounds.

“We knew coming into the game that we needed to speed up the game,” Connaway said. We could make them force turnovers and then we could get out in transition and get easy buckets.”

Connaway snagged a ball out the air like a defensive back and used that athleticism to soar for many defensive rebounds.

“If I can go in there and get a defensive rebound, I don’t have to get the outlet pass, I can just get it and go and then we get easy transition buckets just like that,” Connaway said.

Van-Far has No. 3 Cairo (18-9), who defeated Wellsville-Middletown 72-44 on Monday, at 7:30 p.m. today in the semifinals for a chance at a district title at 7 p.m. Friday. Pat and Nikos Connaway said the Indians will need to stay focused for whatever team they play in the near future — Cairo in this case for the second time this season following a 55-44 win in the season-opener. Pat Connaway said his team will always have a chance if it adheres to its current play.

“We did a good job of turning them, getting a hand in, using our speed, forcing some longer passes and getting out and going in transition,” Pat Connaway said. “We’re making the extra pass and getting someone else a layup. I’m pleased with the way we’re sharing the ball.”