Lights out: Metamora shoots down Canton — Redbirds 60-percent
JUSTIN PHELPS
METAMORA – Not many basketball coaches would complain if their team shot 60 percent in a game.
Metamora boys coach Jerry Stowell certainly didn’t after he was told his team was 24-for-40 from the field Saturday night in a 64-53 Mid-Illini Conference victory over Canton (9-11, 4-6) that stopped a four-game skid.
“That’s always good,” Stowell said of his team’s accuracy. “We were taking good shots and when you take good shots, it has to be pretty good. We showed patience.”
Metamora (9-12, 4-6) showed that patience on the defensive side of the floor. It held Canton to 35.5 percent (21-for-59), but the Little Giants won the rebounding battle 26-23. They had 16 offensive boards.
“They shot well and they had some good shots because of a lack of defense,” Canton coach Bob Barnes said. “They hit the shots they had.”
With a 48-36 lead, Metamora started to miss some shots late in the third quarter. Canton capped a five-point run in the final 1:40 of the quarter with a 3-pointer from Ryan Smith, who had 23 points on five 3s.
Canton cut its deficit to 48-43 when Donnie Bordenkircher opened the fourth with a driving layup.
Canton then answered backto-back Metamora jumpers with a 3 from Smith and a layup from Zack Krulac, who had 11 points, with 4:40 left to cut the deficit to 52-48.
“They’re awfully good shooters and you never feel comfortable with a lead on Canton,” Stowell said. “They can come down and knock down a few 3s and they’re right back in the ballgame.”
Metamora’s Tony Winkler, who had 12 points, came down and made a driving layup on the next possession. Bordenkircher was called for an offensive foul on the following play, and the Redbirds had a 57-48 lead after Adam Portscheller made a 3 with 2:25 left.
“It’s always a little something to shoot those 3s when you have to make them,” Stowell said. “I’d prefer to be the team forced to make them, but it’s a little bit more pressure.”
Clay Brinker led Metamora with 16 points and seven rebounds, and Aaron Sparks had 12 and eight.
Copyright 2002
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