Indians' ball movement adjusts well to Wellsville in 73-42 win
The Van-Far boys haven’t played much at home this season, but they were able to make Tuesday’s special night …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous website, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
Indians' ball movement adjusts well to Wellsville in 73-42 win
The Van-Far boys haven’t played much at home this season, but they were able to make Tuesday’s special night count.
The Indians won their Homecoming matchup with Eastern Missouri Conference foe Wellsville-Middletown 73-42 behind 15 assists and 10 3-pointers.
Head coach Pat Connaway said Wellsville (9-12, 1-6 EMO) was focused on leading scorer Nikos Connaway, who finished with 12 points, seven assists and six rebounds, but that led to the Indians’ full roster shining.
“They came out and tried to ‘junk’ us on defense,” Connaway said. “They played a box and 1 on Nikos and tried to take him out of the offense. After the first quarter, we adjusted well and really moved the ball and knocked down shots.”
Van-Far (14-10, 4-4 EMO) led 12-4 but then outscored the Tigers 21-8 in the second quarter for the 33-16 halftime lead that only grew from there.
Cody Smith led the Indians with 19 points, three steals and three 3-pointers, Pacey Reading had 12 points via four 3-pointers, and Gage Gibson had nine points thanks to two 3-pointers.
Connaway said teams have played that kind of defense on Van-Far this season, but it hasn’t adjusted well to it, struggling with clips such as 3-for-32 and 3-for-30 from 3-point territory. In the past three games, he said the Indians have made 33 3-pointers, shooting the ball with more confidence.
“Nineteen road games and five home games make it tough on our kids, but it has really made us battle-tested and we’ll be ready for district action,” Connaway said.
Van-Far plays its final home game of the season at 7 p.m. Monday against Wright City (3-13, 1-5 EMO).
Lady Indians emerge in 60-39 loss to Wellsville-Middletown
Madelynn Caldwell has been providing the Van-Far girls with another scoring option recently.
The senior led the Lady Indians with 13 points and 12 rebounds — her first career double-double — in their 60-39 loss to Eastern Missouri Conference foe Wellsville-Middletown on Tuesday during Van-Far’s Homecoming.
Caldwell had 13 points and three 3-pointers two games prior in a 54-42 victory at Mark Twain and knocked down another three 3-pointers in her 13-point performance on Tuesday, emerging more while point guard Carmen Wilburn continues to be sidelined with an injury.
Mara Jensen was just short of her fourth-straight double-double as she had eight points and 11 rebounds. McKenna Engh-Hoffman finished with 11 points and six rebounds.
The Lady Indians (5-18, 1-7 EMO) stayed with the Lady Tigers (14-8, 3-4 EMO) through one half as the score was tied at 11 after the first quarter and Van-Far was behind 25-22 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Lady Indians were outscored 19-8.
On Wednesday, Van-Far bounced back with a 58-9 victory at home against Columbia Independent (1-6), scoring a season-high points in a game.
Van-Far hosts conference foe Wright City (8-13, 1-6 EMO) at 5:30 p.m. Monday.
