Cisne, Webber set for title clash
Lions take care of Crab Orchard; Trojans hold off Grayville
12/15/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
WAYNE CITY - Defense is still the name of the game when it comes to winning basketball and on Friday night the Cisne Runnin' Lions got the right amount of stops and rebounds, especially in the final frame, to take control of their semifinal game against Crab Orchard.

Coach Kevin Bowen's club pulled away from the Trojans with a 22-10 second quarter in route to a 73-58 win to advance to Saturday's championship game.

This team has been a part of three consecutive third place finishers in this event and will now play for the title for the first time 2015.

The Lions last hoisted the Conrad Allen championship trophy in 2012.

Cisne was topped in scoring by brothers Anden and Kade Atwood with 22 and 21 points respectively.

Anden, a 6-1 senior, hit 10-of-12 free throws in the win while Kade added 4-of-5 from the line.

As a team Cisne put down 18-of-22 charity tosses to reach the title game.

Junior guard Gavyn Harrell finished with 11-points, including a game opening 3-pointer to give the Lions an early lead.

Six-one senior Kaden Baker added nine-points for the Lions to go with nine rebounds as he nearly got a double-double while junior guard Cooper Bowen added eight-points in the win for the now 7-4 Lions after their fifth-straight victory.

“It's been a while. We talked all week long that one game at time and we can give ourselves an opportunity to get to a championship game,” said Coach Bowen. “We didn't play great at times tonight but we played well enough to beat a team the plays so hard and can score. I thought we did a good job defensively.”

Crab Orchard and head coach Jon Brown will play for third place on Saturday after the loss.

The Trojans tasted defeat for just the second time in the season and are now 9-2 on the season.

Coach Brown got double-digit scoring from four players.

Junior guard Carter Watts topped the Trojans with 15-points while junior Cameron Dawes added 13.

Both senior Ethan Travelstead and senior Colton Stover finished with 11-points.

When the Trojans needed point late in the game, they were “one-and-done” on the offensive end.

Although Cisne was out rebounded overall 30-23, they held Crab Orchard to one offensive rebound in the final eight minutes and they out-scored the Trojans by 12 from the foul line in the triumph.

“Early on we gave them some second chance opportunities and you can't do that against a team that can shoot the ball like they (Crab Orchard) can,” said Coach Bowen. “They can score so much in bunches we needed to limit them to one shot. Defensively is what we need to do and we have been doing it all along this year.”

Watts scored twice in the first quarter as the Trojans stayed close.

His second bucket along with a score by Dawes in the lane tied the game at 15-15 with 2:12 left in the first quarter.

It was the game's only even score as Cisne took control.

Kaden Atwood scored five of his points, including three points late, in the first quarter as the Lions led 19-17 at the end of the frame.

Crab Orchard got five-points in the second quarter by Stover on a 3-pointer from the right corner and a bucket on a lob inbound pass to close the Lions' lead to just 30-26.

However Cisne closed the quarter with a scoring burst.

Anden Atwood scored on a mid-range shot from the right wing and brother Kade converted a three-point play on a nice fake in the lane for an “And-One” for a 35-26 advantage.

Then Bowen scored on a drive in the lane before a steal and quick layup by Kade Atwood.

On the ensuing inbound by Crab Orchard, Trojans' junior Cameron Clark was whistled for a technical foul.

Anden Atwood nailed down both free throws for a 41-27 halftime lead for the Lions.

Cisne extended its lead in the third quarter behind 6-of-7 free throws.

Harrell closed out the quarter with a drive to the basket for a three-point play and a 59-44 lead heading to the fourth.

The lead balloon to its largest after scored by both Atwood's and a rebound basket by Baker.

Harrell's second 3-point bomb and his assist to Baker for a lay in made it 72-53 Lions.

“We've had guys step up each game and it take pressure off of us by getting to the basket,” said Coach Bowen. “Kaden Baker does a great job for us and he has been making things happen for us like he did tonight.”

Both coaches went to their benches in the final minutes.

Cisne will face Webber Township on Saturday night in the championship game while Crab Orchard will face Grayville in the third place matchup.
Gold Bracket Semifinal
1
2
3
4
-
F
Cisne
19
22
18
14
-
73
Crab Orchard
17
10
17
14
-
58

Cisne (73) – K. Atwood 7 1 4-5 21, Harrell 2 2 1-1 11, Baker 4 0 1-2 9, A. Atwood 6 0 10-12 22, Bowen 3 0 2-2 8, K. Dagg 0 0 0-0 0, Howard 1 0 0-0 2, Mix 0 0 0-0 0, Z. Dagg 0 0 0-0 0, R. Atwood 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-23, 3FG-3, FT-18-22, PF-9.
Crab Orchard (58) – Travelstead 1 2 3-4 11, Clark 3 0 0-0 6, Dawes 6 0 1-2 13, Watts 6 1 0-0 15, Stover 1 3 0-0 11, Brotherton 0 0 2-2 2, Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, Ford 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor 0 0 0-0 0, Wyant 0 0 0-0 0, Bell 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-17, 3FG-6, FT-6-8, PF-17.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – Clark - Crab Orchard.

WEBBER 69, GRAYVILLE 62
 The Trojans advanced to the championship game with a win over their Midland Trail Conference rivals on Friday night.

Only four players scored for Webber Township and head coach Jaxon Helm but it proved to be enough for the Trojans to improve to 8-1 on the year.

Sophomore Ethan Marlow paced the Trojans with 23-points while senior teammates Nikkos Ulm (19) and Dylan French (18) added to the totals.

Senior Damian Fleener added nine-points in the triumph that wasn't easy.

Coach Travis Thompson and his Bison stayed close throughout but couldn't get a lead late as they dropped into the third place game.

Junior guard Zach Leavens led Grayville with 22-points while Ty'zae Rowland, a 6-3 senior, netted 17.

Six-four sophomore Jake Hosman added 16 for Grayville, who are now 6-4 on the season, having their four-game winning streak stopped.

The first half featured six lead changes and four tie scores before the Trojans ended up with a 33-29 halftime lead.

Grayville led at the first horn after getting six points from Leavens and a key 3-point bomb by Hosman from the top of the circle as the Bison held a 15-12 advantage.

The Bison's last lead came after a Rowland 3-point bomb made it 25-21 with 4:12 remaining in the half.

Webber then went on a 12-0 run triggered by Ulm with a trifecta from the left wing followed by an inbound pass that Ulm converted into points.

The next seven points came from Marlow.

The 6-2 guard scored on a mid-range shot and followed it up with a steal and transition score.

A 3-point bomb from the top of the arc made it 33-25 Webber with :34 left in the second quarter.

“As cheesy as it sounds, we talk about 'riding the wave' because basketball games have highs and lows, each team goes on runs,” said Coach Helm. “We hope to make theirs shorter and ours longer. And we did a pretty good job of that tonight.”

Grayville closed the half with points from Leavens on two free throws and a drive to the basket as the Bison trailed by four at the break.

Webber extended its lead with a three-point play by Fleener on a fast break while getting fouled.

French added consecutive scores in the quarter and Marlow closed the third with five-points on 3-of-4 free throws and a driving bank shot to close the quarter at 53-41 Trojans.

“He (Marlow) is a competitor and he showed tonight he can also play defense. He guards some of the best kids in the conference on the defensive end of the floor. He's a kid that just looks to compete,” said Coach Helm. “Our guard play is our strength and we compensate for our lack of size with our backcourt play. We executed our game-plan today.”

Grayville got within a single possession twice late in the fourth quarter but Coach Helm's kids delivered the much needed points at the end from the foul line.

French hit a key shot as the Trojans broke through a full-court press for a fast-break basket.

Four consecutive free throws by Marlow and French sealed the win in the final :32.1.

Webber and Grayville were both exceptional from the foul line Fridy night.

The Trojans hit 14-of-16 from the stripe and the Bison finished 11-of-12.

From the floor, Webber ended up 26-of-47 overall (55.3 percent) compared to 47 percent (24-of-51) by the Bison.

Webber ended up with a 26-22 rebounding edge led by Marlow (eight) and Ulm (seven) while sophomore Carter Bain had three rebounds in the first half for Coach Helm.

Rowland led Grayville with six rebounds while both Leavens and junior Canyon Neeley ended up with four rebounds each.

Freshman Ian Kleinschmidt didn't score but had three rebounds.

Senior Kanaan Worley scored six-points for the Bison.

Coach Thompson's club will face Crab Orchard on Saturday night in the third place contest.

Coach Helm, who played at Webber Township, never played in a title game at Wayne City but will now lead his alma mater into the title tilt on Saturday.

“They (Cisne) are tough. Their year has been coming for a while and now they're mature and older,” said Coach Helm. “They will give us a tough game.”
Gold Bracket Semifinal
1
2
3
4
-
F
Webber Township  
12
21
20
16
-
69
Grayville
15
14
12
21
-
62

Webber Township (69) - French 6 0 6-7 18, Ulm 8 1 0-0 19, Fleener 3 0 3-3 9, Marlow 6 2 5-6 23, Bain 0 0 0-0 0, Moser 0 0 0-0 0. 2FG-23, 3FG-3, FT-14-16, PF-10.
Grayville (62) – Rowland 6 1 2-2 17, Hosman 4 2 2-2 16, Leavens 8 0 6-6 22, Neeley 0 0 0-0 0, Worley 3 0 0-0 6, Kleinschmidt 0 0 1-2 1. 2FG-21, 3FG-3, FT-11-12, PF-18.
Fouled Out – Worley - Grayville.
Technical Fouls – None.
LINTON-STOCKTON 65, LOVEJOY 45
 The Miners, in their first ever appearance at the Conrad Allen, took care of business on Friday night early with a 21-5 first quarter to reach the fifth place game set for Saturday.

Head coach Matt Britton, a former coach at Effingham St. Anthony, has his team sitting at 4-1 on the young season.

Three players hit double-digits in scoring in the victory.

Six-four sophomore Paul Oliver tossed in 19-points and grabbed seven rebounds to pace the Indiana club.

Connor Daily, a 6-3 sophomore, added 18-points and four boards while senior Jamison Fields added 17-points in the rout.

Lovejoy and head coach Kim Haywood are now 2-4 on the young season and will face host Wayne City in the seventh place game Saturday afternoon.

Jamal Brown, a 6-4 senior power forward, powered his way to 28-points and 11-rebounds in the loss.

Sophomore De'Ravion Gayden added nine-points for the Wildcats while sophomore Marlon Jackson added five and sophomore Ke'Shaun Crow scored three.

Fields scored eight of his points in the first quarter for Linton-Stockton and Oliver 11 in the first quarter separation.

Six-points by Brown in the second quarter helped trim the Wildcats' deficit to just 31-19 at the half.

But another run by Linton-Stockton in the third quarter sent the Miners into the fifth place contest against North Clay, who bested Wayne City 59-45 on Thursday night.

The Miners hit six 3-pointers in the game, three of them by Fields, with all three coming in the second half.

Coach Britton's club hit 9-of-13 from the foul line compared to just 10-of-21 for Lovejoy.
Silver Bracket Semifinal
1
2
3
4
-
F
Linton-Stockton 
21
10
20
15
-
65
Lovejoy
05
14
11
15
-
45

Linton-Stockton (65) – Smith 3 0 1-2 7, Miller 0 0 0-0 0, Fields 4 3 0-0 17, Webster 0 0 0-0 0, Oliver 4 2 5-5 19, Feltner 0 0 0-0 0, Daily 7 1 0-0 17, Keen 1 0 1-2 3, McBride 0 0 1-2 1, Irish 0 0 0-0 0, Breedlove 0 0 1-2 1.
2FG-19, 3FG-6, FT-9-13, PF-19.
Lovejoy (45) – J. Brown 10 1 5-9 28, D. Jackson 0 0 0-0 0, M. Brown 0 0 0-0 0, Crow 1 0 1-2 3, M. Jackson 2 0 1-4 5, Haynes 0 0 0-0 0, Garyden 3 0 3-6 9.
2FG-16, 3FG-1, FT-10-21, PF-15.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – D. Jackson - Lovejoy.