12-04-10
BY JACK BULLOCK
CAMPBELL HILL - The Trico Pioneers showed everyone in attendance on Saturday night in the final game of the Trico Pioneer Invitational Tournament who was clearly the best team in this field.

Chase Heins – the tournaments Most Valuable Player – scored 15-points and grabbed 13-rebounds as the Pioneers remained unbeaten at 5-0 with a resounding 53-30 victory over an over-matched Sparta team that ended its week at 1-4.

Head coach Shane Hawkins ended up emptying his bench in the fourth quarter after his regulars dominated play from the beginning as Trico never trailed.

A 10-2 run to begin the game put the Pioneers in a comfort zone.

Offensively Sparta didn't have a chance against a club that swarmed over the Bulldogs – forcing this River-to-River Conference club into 25-turnovers and held them to just 13-of-34 shooting on the night.

“He (Heins) showed signs of being really good last year but then he showed signs that he was a 15-year old kid, too,” said Trico head coach Shane Hawkins. “At times he struggled with people his size because he lacked confidence. Each game that goes by he gets more and more confident. We just need to keep finding ways to get him the ball.”

Jesse Smith added 11-points for Trico while Dylan Witthoft chipped in eight as nine Pioneers inked the book in the blowout.

Sparta saw its overall record for the season slip to 1-5 with no player getting to double-figures in scoring.

The Bulldogs got eight points each from Jordan Thompson and Weslen Kiner in the loss.

Heins scored seven of his points in that 10-2 sprint and Smith got the club rolling with a conventional three-point play on a drive to the basket.

Smith also nailed a 3-pointer from the right wing as the Pioneers led 13-6 at the end of one period.

Sparta's best run in the contest came in the second quarter as the Bulldogs cut the lead down to 20-16 on a pair of scores from Thompson and Aaron Rushing.

But the Pioneers closed the half strong with reserve Tyler Coleman coming up big in the final seconds.

Taking a pass in transition – Coleman pulled up for a 3-pointer from the right side.

His 20-footer connected as the buzzer sounded for a 28-16 halftime advantage.

After spotting Sparta a quick second half bucket – Trico went on a 12-2 run to take the wind out of the Sparta sails.

Witthoff nailed a 3-pointer from the left corner and drove the lane and scored on a nice reverse lay in to begin the run.

Smith grabbed a rebound and scored while being fouled by Austin Peck.

His subsequent free throw pushed the lead to 39-20 with 4:33 left.

Another Witthoft trifecta and a rebound basket by Coleman closed the third quarter 46-26.

Trico used its ball handling skills to run clock and closed out the game.

The Pioneers didn't shoot the ball particularly well from the floor (19-of-54) but overcompensated by owning the glass – outrebounding the Bulldogs 36-23 and forcing the Bulldogs into those 25-miscues.

“I think this year we are going to have more balance and we could have a different kid lead us in scoring every night,” added Coach Hawkins. “When you have that many weapons it is hard to defend.”

Sparta (30) – Peck 0 1 0-0 3, Hanna 0 0 0-2 0, Thompson 3 0 2-2 8, Morgan 1 0 1-2 3, Oliver 1 0 0-0 2, Morrison 1 0 0-2 2, Jackson 1 0 0-0 2, Rushing 1 0 0-0 2, Sopiars 0 0 0-0 0, Kiner 4 0 0-1 8.
2FG-12, 3FG-1, FT-3-9, PF-19.
Trico (53) – Froemling 0 0 0-0 0, Witthoft 1 2 0-0 8, Smith 1 2 4-8 11, Heller 0 0 1-2 1, Meyerhoff 1 1 0-0 5, Pyatt 1 0 4-4 6, LePere 0 0 0-0 0, Coleman 2 0 0-0 4, Bunselmeyer 0 0 0-0 0, Kuhlman 0 0 0-0 0, Bower 1 0 0-0 2, Watson 0 0 0-0 0, Heins 7 0 1-7 15, Compton 0 0 1-2 1.
2FG-15, 3FG-4, FT-11-23, PF-16.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – Sparta Bench.

STEELEVILLE 63, RED BUD 52
The Warriors closed their week at 3-2 with the win over the Musketeers (3-2) with Coire Reel leading the way with 18-points.

Colin Smith chipped in 16-points and Torrey Gerberding added 15 for Steeleville in the win.

Red Bud got 14-points from Alex Phegley in the loss.

Steeleville (63) – Smith 6 0 4-4 16, Potter 0 0 2-2 2, Wittenbrink 0 0 0-0 0, Winkelman 2 0 0-0 4, Combs 0 0 0-0 0, Pokrzywinski 4 0 0-0 8, Reel 8 0 2-2 18, Gerberding 2 3 2-2 15.
2FG-22, 3FG-3, FT-10-10, PF-13.
Red Bud (52) – Magruder 0 1 0-0 3, Schneider 2 0 1-2 5, Schwartz 0 1 0-0 3, Liefer 0 1 0-0 3, Salger 2 1 0-0 7, Kunkel 2 1 2-2 9, Kueker 1 2 0-0 8, Phegley 7 0 0-1 14, Wilson 0 0 0-0 0, Schlueter 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-14, 3FG-7, FT-3-5, PF-14.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.

EGYPTIAN 82, SHAWNEE 35
In a contest between South Egyptian Conference teams – the Pharaohs improved to 3-2 on the week with a huge offensive effort.

Darmez Nelson scored 25-points to lead all scorers as head coach Matt Mandrell's team led 73-26 after three quarters.

Ty McMahan led the Redskins (0-5) with seven points.

Shawnee (35) – Pind 1 1 0-0 5, McMahan 2 1 0-0 7, Ellet 1 0 0-0 2, Livesay 3 0 0-0 6, Gustafson 1 0 0-0 2, Pennington 2 0 0-0 4, Smith 1 1 1-2 6, Treece 1 0 0-0 2.
2FG-12, 3FG-3, FT-2-4, PF-2.
Egyptian (82) – Shaw 1 0 0-0 2, Santamaria 2 0 0-0 4, Terry 4 2 0-0 14, Nelson 11 0 3-4 25, Prewitt 0 0 0-0 0, Murphy 1 0 0-0 2, Sissom 1 1 0-0 5, Woodson 6 0 0-0 12, Marable 7 0 0-0 14, Lewis 2 0 0-0 4.
2FG-35, 3FG-3, FT-3-4, PF-4.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.