02-19-11
BY JACK BULLOCK
WINDSOR – Don't pinch anyone in Windsor because this dream has been way too good.

The Blue Devils haven't had much basketball success in the past few decades so no one should leave a wake up call until at least March.

Behind the stellar play of a senior laden group – on the night in which these four-year players put on their uniforms for the final time at home – Windsor demolished National Trail Conference rival Cowden-Herrick 89-49 in front of a big crowd.

Coach Bruce Austin saw his club win improve to a 23-3 mark.

For years a league doormat – the Devils and this student body have had a good time riding this wave of exuberance caused by the success of this group.

Three seasons ago Windsor went 0-23. Now this group is on the brink of winning the school's first regional title since the 1959-60 season back when the state was one-class.

Its last winning season was 2000-01 and this win-mark hasn't been seen at this school since Coach Austin was a senior on a 19-9 team in 1992.

Again – no one set the alarm just yet.

As for the contest on Saturday night – it really wasn't one.

Windsor jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the first three minutes of the game and never looked back in improving to 8-2 in the NTC – which is good enough for third place behind perennial powers Teutopolis and St. Anthony.

Kyle Floyd led all scorers with 28-points in the game for the Blue Devils and this 6-foot-2 senior guard and leader got the Windsor tidal wave rolling early with a pair of baskets.

His lay in on a lob pass from brother Ryne Floyd coupled with a 3-point bomb from the right wing gave the Devils a 5-0 lead in the first minute.

Not to be outdone – Ryne nailed a trifecta from the right corner in the scoring spree.

Scores by seniors Bryn Price and Zach Weber extended the lead to 10-points for the first time at 5:53 to go in the first stanza.

“When we are hitting from the outside and then inside you can't double team us because Zach (Weber) is big enough that you almost have to double him. He had a big night tonight,” said Coach Austin. “When you have a 6-foot-5 shooting guard (Ryne Floyd) you can shoot over the top of smaller guards. It is a tough match up for teams and we try to exploit that. Ryno hit four 3's in the first half and when we get everything going we're a tough team to defend.”

Windsor scored the quarter's final seven points when Kyle Floyd collected his second 3-pointer and his brother Ryne Floyd scored on the same lob play that served him well in the early going.

Another Weber score on an offensive rebound put the Blue Devils up 28-14 at the end of one.

Windsor connected on 10-of-15 shots in the first quarter to get off to a grandiose beginning.

As for Cowden-Herrick the good moments were sparse but the Hornets have a few quality underclassmen to build toward the future.

Two of them – 5-foot-9 junior Derrick Knnearam and 6-foot-1 sophomore Luke Moore - scored on back-to-back drives to the basket that forced a Windsor timeout at 38-20 with 4:15 to play before intermission.

But the Hornets would get no closer the rest of the way.

Weber closed the half with a conventional three-point play while grabbing a rebound.

His made free throw sent the teams to the locker room at 49-26.

An 11-2 run to open the third quarter removed the drama of the night for Windsor and allowed Coach Austin to play a lot of kids.

Senior Bryn Price – a 1,000-point scorer and transfer from Neoga before the season began – scored eight points for Windsor which included back-to-back buckets as part of that run.

His fast break lay in pushed the lead to 59-28 with 3:58 left in the third.

By the time Kyle Floyd scored on a lay in and Weber hit another pair of free throws – Windsor led 69-34 heading to the fourth quarter.

Following Kyle Floyd's 28-points was Weber with 18. Ryne Floyd tossed home 16-points while teammate Sidney Edwards added 14.

“That is what we do well. We get the ball to the right people,” explained Coach Austin. “I was impressed tonight that we did rebound the ball well. Night in and night out we can go to anybody (to score) and they are so unselfish. If one guy is hitting we will feed him the ball. That is one great thing about our basketball team. We have a lot of guys who can score.”

The Blue Devils were 35-of-68 from the floor and hit 7-of-18 3-point shots.

Not only did Weber score 18-points but he snared 13-rebounds.

Cowden-Herrick finished 21-of-60 from the field and committed 18-turnovers with 12 coming in the first 24 minutes.

Three Hornets finished with double figures with Moore leading the list with 14. Alex Turner and Knearam added 12 and 10 respectively.

A state tournament switch back in November by the IHSA sent Windsor north through the Arcola Regional (they are the top seed) and hopefully on to the Danville Schlarman Sectional and perhaps a super-sectional at Normal (ISU).

“It (basketball success) hasn't happened here in a long time and this community has been unbelievable in supporting us at home and on the road,” said Coach Austin. “They come out in full-force and a night like tonight – we've got a hundred people still standing out here taking pictures and getting autographs. There are signs around town. Businesses have been decorated for months. They really support the team and that is what we love. We haven't seen this success in a while.”

Cowden-Herrick is playing at the Neoga Regional next week.

Cowden-Herrick (49) – Hovis 1 1 0-0 5, Knearam 3 0 4-6 10, Turner 5 0 2-4 12, Moore 7 0 0-0 14, Morgason 3 0 0-1 6, Buchanan 0 0 0-0 0, Lawrence 0 0 0-0 0, Bryce Barnes 0 0 0-0 0, Brady Barnes 0 0 0-0 0, Mitchell 1 0 0-0 2.
2FG-20, 3FG-1, FT- 6-11, PF-18.
Windsor (89) – R. Floyd 2 4 0-0 16, Stremming 0 0 0-0 0, Cole 0 0 1-2 1, Gilbert 0 0 0-0 0, K. Floyd 10 2 2-6 28, Beem 1 0 0-0 2, Allen 0 0 0-0 0, Edwards 3 1 5-6 14, Price 4 0 0-2 8, Weber 7 0 4-6 18, Haddock 0 0 0-0 0, Leasher 1 0 0-0 2, Ard 0 0 0-0 0. 2FG-12, 3FG-6, FT-7-11, PF-14.
Fouled Out - Mitchell - Cowden-Herrick.
Technical Fouls – None.