Wednesday, January 05, 2000
Simon Kenton 73, Ryle 60
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer contributor
UNION — Losing four starters isn't supposed to lead to 10 wins, but Simon Kenton's boys basketball team doesn't care.
The Pioneers' lone returnee from last year, junior guard Jordan Stowers, is doing what he can to make his team a Ninth Region contender now. He scored 17 points Tuesday in a 73-60 win at Ryle.
“Everybody has a piece of the puzzle,” Stowers said. “They do what they can do.”
With so many starters gone from last year's regional semifinalists, Simon Kenton was not listed in most preseason top 10 rankings.
“These kids have talent,” coach Scott Humphrey said. “We had so many seniors last year, they couldn't get major minutes. I don't know if our players took offense (at not being ranked), but they definitely noticed.”
Stowers averages 15.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, but he's not the only contributor. Senior forward Brandon Coppage averages 12 points and 5.4 rebounds a game and scored 16 against Ryle, and junior guards Donnie Baker and junior forward Kevin Cristello added 11 and 10 points Tuesday.
“We knew we had to work hard,” Coppage said. “We weren't too worried about losing those people.”
Stowers wasn't a factor on of fense in Tuesday's first half — he scored just eight points — but his four first quarter steals and a pair of 3-pointers from Baker helped the Pioneers to a 16-4 lead.
Ryle's only offense was senior forward Mike Setters. He scored nine of the Raiders' 11 points in the opening quarter and finished the half with 13.
Unfortunately for Simon Kenton, Stowers' other contribution, five of the Pioneers' nine first half turnovers, helped put Ryle back into the game.
A field goal by Simon Kenton freshman center Mike Brock with 6:20 left in the half put the Pioneers up 26-17.
But five minutes later Ryle was down by just 34-32 on five points from sophomore guard Casey Maley and four by junior guard Justin Noel.
Simon Kenton (10-2) recovered nicely — a 6-3 run over the final 2:01. Stowers had and Coppage each scored three.
“They just physically pushed us around,” Ryle coach Nate Niemi said. “... We had too many (17) turnovers. Simon's the type of team that plays in spurts. They had more spurts than we did.”
SIMON KENTON (73) Stowers 4-8 17, Coppage 4-8 16, K. Cristello 3-0 6, Hurt 3-4 10, Ballinger 2-2 6, Baker 4-1 11, Piper 1-1 3, Brock 2-0 4. Totals: 23-24 73.
RYLE (60) Setters 4-4 13, Steiner 1-4 6, Miller 2-4 8, Maley 2-3 8, Crigler 2-0 5, Feagan 2-0 5, Hamilton 2-0 4, Runge 0-2 2, Noel 3-3 9. Totals: 18-20 60.
Simon Kenton ....... 20 20 18 15—73
Ryle ....... 11 24 13 12—60
Three-point goals: SK-Baker 2, Stowers. R-Setters, Maley, Crigler, Feagan. Records: SK 10-2, R 4-8.
Sports Stories
Who wants to be a Bengal?
Arbitration could hit Reds where it counts: In the pocketbook
UC-Charlotte missing edge this time
Mickeal's hot streak gets rewarded
Xavier blows Top 25 chance
