12-12-05
BY JACK BULLOCK
WAYNE CITY - The opening night of the Conrad Allen Wayne City Holiday Tournament produced two very close low scoring games and one high scoring shootout.

But when the dust settled on the first session of games Webber Township, considered the favorite to win the title, Cisne and Clay City came out the winners.

The Trojans got 30-points from Bryce McKenzie as they out gunned Patoka, 90-78.

Cisne overcame 20 turnovers and an off night from the field in edging Thompsonville 37-35 while Clay City scored five points in the final minute to knock off Wayne City 41-40.

CISNE 37, T'VILLE 35
When Thompsonville head coach John Robinson read his teams shot chart following the Tigers narrow loss to Cisne, he saw full well what has caused his team so much trouble in this young season.

The Tigers were a 'pitiful' 13-of-52 from the field, including 1-of-9 from behind the 3-point line in their 37-35 loss.

"We got the shots tonight but we can't score and you can't win unless you put the ball in the basket," Robinson explained. "When you get eight foot or ten foot jump shots and open lay ups and you still can't make them, then you are not going to beat anyone."

Failing to capitalize on the Lions' turnover problems, Thompsonville dropped to 0-1 in the tournament and 3-6 overall.

Cisne improved to 5-3 overall and 1-0 in Pool B as coach Kevin Bowen's club looks to defend its Conrad Allen title with a strong week.
"We struggled to take care of the ball tonight and it was ugly, but it was a win," said Bowen. "But it was good for our kids to play in a close game for the first time this season."

The Lions opened the game by getting the ball inside to 6-foot-3 junior Ryan Vaught. Vaught scored six points in the frame; his third bucket gave Cisne a 10-6 lead at the end of one.

Thompsonville's Trent Clark scored five first quarter points on a 3-pointer and a drive in the lane.

But the Tigers were just 2-of-14 from the field in the opening eight minutes.

As inept as Thompsonville was offensively, Cisne was equally generous.

Ross Heern, the Tigers' 5-foot-9 junior guard, scored eight points in the second period to spark his team.

His steal and fast break lay in with 2:18 until half time evened the score at 18-apiece.

Cisne's Elliott Rodgers broke that tie with baseline drive for a score and a pair of free throws.

However just before the second quarter buzzer, Heern grabbed a missed air ball and stuck it back in the basket sending the teams to the break at 22-20 Cisne.

Thompsonville took the lead heading into the final quarter by outscoring the Lions 7-4.

A steal by Wade Dial and subsequent assist to Jordan Browning on a fast break bucket with :09 left made it 27-26 heading to the fourth quarter.

Ben Farleigh, Cisne's 6-foot-1 junior leader and all-tourney selection last season, took it upon himself to get his Lions a win.

He scored an early basket to give his club back the lead 28-27.

Then he helped put the Tigers away from the foul line late in the contest.

Clark scored four points in the final quarter for Thompsonville, but he fouled out with :16.4 left, sending Farleigh to the free throw line.

Farleigh hit the second of two charities to give Cisne a 36-35 lead.

Heern had a chance to give his team a win, but his shot from the right side of the lane misfired.

After being fouled, Cisne's Rodgers made the back end of a two-shot opportunity with :01.9.

Heern's 3/4 court shot missed the mark as the horn sounded.

The Lions shot a bit better than Thompsonville in the game, connecting on 12-of-38 from the field (31.5 percent) including 0-of-5 from behind the arc.

Cisne out rebounded Thompsonville 30-23, something that Bowen has emphasized in the early going this season.

"We have talked about rebounding the ball better because we are not very big," added Bowen. "We have some height but not the big, strong guys like we had last season. Those guys were big enough to clear out a space but we have to work harder this season to box people out."

The Tigers committed just eight turnovers, but the missed shots doomed Coach Robinson's club.

"They (Cisne) shot 12-free throws in the fourth quarter because they were more aggressive than we were," explained Robinson. "It is frustrating because we just don't have anyone right now that can take it to the basket and get us some points. When we had chances to win the game at the end, we 'clanged' shots that we should be able to make."

Farleigh topped Cisne with 11-points while Vaught and Rodgers added nine and eight points respectively.

Clark and Heern shared high honors with 10-points apiece for Thompsonville.

Cisne will play Patoka Tuesday night while Thompsonville will have a day to get ready for Webber Township on Wednesday.

Thompsonville (35) - Clark 2 1 3-4 10, Dial 3 0 3-5 9, Heern 4 0 2-2 10, D. Fisher 1 0 0-0 2, J. Fisher 1 0 0-0 0, Browning 1 0 0-0 2, Gaither 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-12, 3FG-2, FT-8-11, PF-17.
Cisne (37) - Kincart 1 0 2-2 4, Rodgers 2 0 4-6 8, Farleigh 3 0 4-6 11, Lowery 1 0 0-0 2, Vaught 4 0 1-2 9, Obrecht 0 0 1-2 1, Lowe 1 0 0-0 2.
2FG-12, 3FG-0, FT-13-20, PF-13.
Fouled Out - Clark and J. Fisher, Thompsonville.
Technical Fouls - None.

CLAY CITY 41, WAYNE CITY 40
Free throw shooting will win you a lot of games in a basketball season.

Unfortunately the Wayne City Indians saw what can happen if you can't convert opportunities at the foul line.

Hitting on just 12-of-27 charities on Monday night, including just 8-of-19 in the final quarter.

Trailing 40-36, Clay City got a 3-pointer from Brandon Allison and a drive to the basket and score by Ricky Nelson with just :05 remaining to pull out a 41-40 win.

Wayne City's Ryan Clevenger had a shot to win the game but his 15-footer from the right elbow missed off the right side of the rim as time expired.

The Wolves got 14-points from Nelson while Andrew Bangert and Tyler Frohning added eight points each.

Jake Talbert paced the Indians with 13-points and Clevenger hit for 10.
Clay City is 1-0 in Pool A and will take on Crab Orchard Tuesday night at 5:30 pm while Wayne City will play Mid-South Conference rival Grayville at 8:30 pm.

Clay City (41) - Frohning 3 0 2-3 8, Nelson 5 1 1-2 14, B. Allison 2 1 0-1 7, Mitchell 0 0 0-0 0, Workman 2 0 0-0 4, M. Dwall 0 0 0-0 0, Bloehs 0 0 0-0 0, Bangert 3 0 2-3 8.
2FG-15, 3FG-2, FT-5-9, PF-22.
Wayne City (40) -Talbert 1 2 5-6 13, Braddock 1 0 0-0 2, Bradford 2 0 2-9 6, Clevenger 0 2 4-8 10, Tubbs 3 0 0-0 6, Rightnowar 0 0 0-2 0, McCormick 1 0 1-2 3.
2FG-8, 3FG-42, FT-12-27, PF-14.
Fouled Out - Frohning, Clay City.
Technical Fouls - None.

WEBBER TOWNSHIP 90, PATOKA 78
The Trojans jumped out to a double-digit lead and held off Patoka's late run to take a step toward winning the tournament championship.

Bryce McKenzie was the top scorer on the opening night of the tournament, leading Webber Township with 30-points.

With little defense being played at either end of the court, the Trojans raced out to a 29-13 first quarter lead.

Patoka cut the Webber lead to single digits four times in the fourth quarter.

However Coach Clarence Gross' club, on the strength of a 9-of-11 shooting performance from the foul line, held off the Warriors to improve to 1-0 in Pool B, and 6-1 overall.

Patoka was paced by Brandon Metcalf with 16-points. Matt Thompson and Jordan Potter each scored 15-points while Rio Hames added 13.

Webber Township (90) - McKenzie 11 0 8-12 30, Henry 6 0 2-2 14, Trout 7 0 5-8 19, Loker 2 0 0-2 4, Swartz 6 2 1-3 19, Truitt 0 0 0-0 0, Chambliss 0 0 0-0 0, Scott 1 0 0-0 2, Kiel 1 0 0-0 2.
2FG-34, 3FG-2, FT-16-27, PF-23.
Patoka (78) - Jenkins 0 0 0-0 0, Murfin 0 0 0-0 0, Whisler 0 0 0-0 0, Thompson 4 1 4-5 15, Cain 0 0 0-0 0, Kim 0 0 0-0 0, Back 5 0 2-2 12, Potter 2 2 5-8 15, Sullins 0 0 0-0 0, Hames 6 0 1-1 13, Metcalf 8 0 0-0 16, Carroll 2 0 3-5 7.
2FG-27, 3FG-3, FT-15-21, PF-21.
Fouled Out - None.
Technical Fouls - None.