12-04-2021
BY JACK BULLOCK
MARION - With the Herrin Tigers it starts with defensive end of the floor, according to head coach Sayler Shurtz, and it showed Saturday night at the Marion Shootout in their contest against previously undefeated Breese Central.

The Tigers held Central to just 14-of-42 from the floor and forced 13-turnovers as they improved to 2-1 on the season.

Six-five sophomore Jonathan Harrison turned in a gem of a game defensively as he ended up with 10-points, 12-rebounds and five blocked shots.

“We've been preaching that since the summer that it (defense) was going to win us ballgames. You look at our crew and we are probably not the most intimidating bunch but we really get after it defensively,” said Coach Shurtz. “We were hoping that it would be kind of our identity coming into this season. Create some turnovers and create some easy buckets. I thought we kept a very good Breese Central team in check for most of the game. I've been proud of the way we come out with our intensity.”

Three Herrin players ended up with double-figures in scoring.

Harrison with 10 to go with freshman Kyrese Lukens with 14 and sophomore Exavier Williams with 12 led the Tigers, who are now 2-1 on the season.

“Jonathan Harrison had a heck of a game for us tonight. Defensively he is just an intimidating presence in the lane. And offensively he is a really good passer and he gets the other kids involved,” said Coach Shurtz.

For the Central Cougars, something happened on Saturday night that hadn't occurred since February 28, 2020.

On that night Coach Jeremy Shubert saw his club lose in the regional championship game against rival Breese Mater Dei.

Central hadn't tasted defeat since then, having won all 15-games in the Covid19 2020-21 season and the first five games this winter, including four-straight victories in winning the Effingham St. Anthony Thanksgiving Tournament.

However the Cougars couldn't muster enough offense on Saturday night as their record slipped to 5-1.

Brady Moore, a 6-4 senior, led BC with 17-points.

This was more than half of the team's total for the night.

Another telling stat was that Moore hit the Cougars' only long range shot as the club went just 1-of-14 from the arc.

“We had good looks, five really good looks early, but we haven't made those shots,” said Coach Shubert. “We just haven't been able to put the ball in the hole. You have to be able to score more than 33-points in a high school game and win. We need to find a way get Brady some help.”

Meanwhile the Tigers were the ones lighting it up from the outside.

Lukens, the grandson of former Herrin head coach Irv Lukens, nailed a pair of 3-pointers in a game changing, third quarter run.

“He (Lukens) is a 'Hooper' and he isn't afraid of the moment. It doesn't matter if he starts or comes off the bench, he is just happy to play,” said Coach Shurtz. “As a freshman to come in and have an impact like that, it's really exciting for the future.”

Williams also canned a pair of treys while senior guard Ryan Chrostoski hit the team's other long range bomb as Herrin ended up 6-of-12 from 'downtown'.

Central held a brief lead in the first quarter.

Moore canned the only 3-pointer for the Cougars with 1:58 left in the frame for a 5-4 Central advantage.

But Chrostoski nailed his trifecta from the right corner and a score in the lane by junior Haydon Mayer ended the quarter at 9-5 Herrin.

Coach Shubert's team did manage to keep things close throughout the second quarter.

Trailing 11-6 in the early part of the stanza, BC ended the half at 13-11.

Junior Cody Dickshot scored five points, all in the first half, along with a late bucket by Moore that kept the Cougars in the game down just two at intermission.

In spite of hitting just 4-of-19 shots in the first 16 minutes, Central was still in the contest.

In fact Central managed a couple of ties in the third quarter with consecutive baskets by senior Luke Stubhart, the final one coming at 15-15 with 6:12 left.

Unfortunately for the Cougars, the next few minutes didn't pan out well.

Three consecutive 3-point bombs by Lukens (2) and Williams 'super-charged' a 14-2 run.

Lukens scored 11 of the points as he also added a drive in the lane along with a fast break lay in off of one of Central's four third quarter turnovers.

“The three 3-pointers they hit in the third quarter changed the game and we couldn't hit open shots,” said Coach Shubert. “Their three guards were better than our three guards tonight.”

Moore, the bright spot of the night for BC, added a three-point play and senior Dalton Boruff added a lay in off of a back door cut to whittle the Herrin lead down to 31-22 at the end of the third.

“I think we hit three straight 3's. It was huge. You can pop open a ballgame like that and start to gain some confidence,” said Coach Shurtz. “Seeing the ball go through like that amps you up even more defensively.”

As it turned out that was as close as Coach Shubert's club would get the rest of the way.

Williams opened the final frame with yet another 3-pointer, this time from the left wing and Lukens finalized his scoring night with his third long range dagger.

Add a Harrison rebound score in the run and Herrin was in command at 39-24.

Spreading the floor on offense, the Tigers got a couple of easy scores on drives and cuts to the goal by Williams.

“We have some good ball handlers and we put it in their hands at the end of the game. A senior like (Ryan) Chrostoski isn't flashy but he led us and he is an extension of me on the floor. I thought he did a great job.”

Harrison added a final bucket on an inbounds play as the lead reached its pinnacle at 47-29 with just over a minute remaining.

Moore finished his night with a mid-range shot and the Cougars' final score came on a missed shot where a Herrin player went for the rebound and tipped it the Central basket.

The Cougars will hit the road again for a pair of road games at Triad and Roxana on Tuesday and Friday respectively while hosting Alton Marquette on Saturday.

Herrin will host Cairo on Tuesday and then travel to Benton on Friday.

“They're athletic and they corrected a lot of things offensively from when we saw them,” said Coach Shubert. “It was good for us to play down here. They have a great facility (Marion) and we had an opening. Herrin is a very athletic team and it was good for us to play a team like them and we will learn from this.”

Herrin (47) – Chrostoski 0 1 0-1 3, Williams 3 2 0-1 12, Huntley 2 0 0-0 4, Harrison 5 0 0-0 10, Lukens 2 3 1-2 14, Mayer 1 0 2-2 4, Hall 0 0 0-0 0, Billingsley 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-13, 3FG-6, FT-3-6, PF-10.
Breese Central (33) – Dickshot 2 0 1-2 5, Hamon 1 0 0-0 2, Shubert 0 0 0-0 0, Sample 0 0 0-0 0, Boruff 2 0 0-0 4, Stubhart 2 0 0-2 4, Moore 6 1 2-2 17, Lewis 0 0 1-2 1.
2FG-13, 3FG-1, FT-4-8, PF-12.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.