11/24/2025
BY JACK BULLOCK
CHRISTOPHER - His first head coaching victory came in his first game and head coach Dylan Back was all smiles when the final horn sounded on his team's 49-40 win.

The Patoka/Odin mentor and Patoka graduate, who took over this season for long time mentor Joe Eddy, saw his team put things together with a big third quarter and held off the host Christopher Bearcats late in the game to advance to Wednesday night's semifinal matchup with Webber Township.

The Warriors knocked Christopher into the consolation bracket for just the third time in the tournaments' 51-year history.

Coach Eric Stallman and his club lost their season opener for the first time since 2009.

It wasn't a beautiful performance by either team as Patoka/Odin survived 20-turnovers in the win, six in the final eight minutes.

But it was cold shooting by the Bearcats while getting crushed on the glass that relegated the hosts to the consolation side of the bracket.

Christopher hit just 13-of-48 shots from the floor overall, 8-of-35 from the 3-point line, numbers that are not going to win many games.

A commanding 38-13 rebounding edge helped the Warriors cause.

Patoka/Odin was led by senior guard Lincoln Roberts with 22-points, 11 in each half for Coach Back.

Included in the performance was a 7-of-9 effort at the foul line, 5-of-6 in the final :45.8 of the contest to secure a semifinal berth.

“It's been a few years for us (playing in a semifinal game) and all the hard work is starting to pay off. It's a great feeling. The road win shows the kids what they are capable of if they keep working hard,” said Coach Back, who was a starter for Patoka back in 2016 when the Warriors advanced to the 1A Carbondale Super-sectional.

The Bearcats got 12-points each from seniors Trevin Skropka and Landon Sveda.

Each hit 3-pointers in the final minutes to help the comeback effort.

The pair hit consecutive 3-point bombs to cut the Patoka/Odin lead to just 40-37 with 3:23 remaining.

Christopher would get no closer.

Two huge offensive plays from Warriors' reserve forward Drew Haines proved to be difference makers.

Haines took a great pass on a back door cut to the basket by Roberts before scoring on an offensive rebound to push the lead back out to 44-37.

Roberts slammed the door shut with his performance at the foul line for the Warriors.

Two of the seven first quarter turnovers by Patoka/Odin came on offensive fouls in a pretty sloppy first quarter but Roberts hit a pair of long range shots.

Skropka scored on a drive to the basket while being fouled as his three-point play made it 12-11 Christopher at the end of the first.

After a Skropka 3-point shot to open the second quarter, the Warriors made an 8-0 run.

Roberts canned a 3-point shot before sophomore Kody Burks scored on a rebound basket and then 1-of-2 free throws before.

A steal by sophomore Brody Haines and pass to freshman Hunter Thompson started a fast break.

Haines got the ball back from Thompson for points in transition and a 20-14 Warriors' lead at the 3:36 mark.

Christopher got the lead back by intermission with a 9-0 run.

Free throws by senior Gage Schlake started the run, which included a Sveda 3-pointer and a score by Butler.

A rebound basket by senior Noah Casey closed the run.

An offensive tip-in by Burks closed the scoring as the Bearcats led 23-22 at the half.

A Butler 3-pointer opened the second half for Christopher.

It was the lone made shot and highlight for a disastrous third quarter for Coach Stallman's club.

The Bearcats didn't make another field goal in the frame, missing their next 11 field goal attempts.

Patoka/Odin took control by getting inside for points.

Burks scored on another back door cut and assist from Brady Haines and Roberts added a pair of scores with a conventional three-point play giving the Warriors a 34-27 lead.

Burks then made a big play, catching the Bearcats asleep at the wheel on a free throw attempt.

The sophomore grabbed the rebound off of his missed foul shot and his rebound basket extended the lead.

A Roberts 1-of-2 foul line trip closed the quarter at 38-28 Warriors.

Patoka/Odin survived six fourth quarter turnovers because Christopher couldn't make enough shots late.

The host cut into the lead with a three-point play by Skropka and consecutive 3-pointers from Skropka and Sveda.

The Sveda score moved the Bearcats to within 40-37.

By the time Christopher scored again, the free throw parade by Roberts had sealed the win.

The final Roberts free throws with :17.7 left sent the Warriors on to Wednesday's semifinals where they will face Webber Township, who had little trouble with Thompsonville in the tournament opener.

“The guys putting in the work this summer paid off tonight. It helped the younger guys who were stepping into their roles. We want to have five or six players who can all score every night for us,” said Coach Back. “Our goal at the beginning of the season is to get everybody involved.”

This year senior Nathaniel Marlow made sure that Webber Township was going to end up in the winner's bracket this season.

Marlow, who holds the tournament scoring record for single game points and all-time single season scoring marks, lit up the Tigers with 34-points points in the rout Monday.

The Trojans and Warriors will hook up on Wednesday.

Webber broke things open with a 27-10 third quarter and cruised to a continuous mercy clock victory.

He got help from his brother, Jacob Marlow, who scored 14-points while teammate Waylon Jones netted 10.

Thompsonville was paced by Lucas Blades (11) and Rennie Duncan (10) respectively.