LE ROY — Southern Coffey County High has taken its lumps on the court over the past few years, winning a combined six games over the past two seasons.
It’s only one game into the 2013-14 season, but the tables may have turned.
With senior guards Aaron True and Chism Newkirk controlling the tempo on offense and defense, the Titans limited Crest to 10 points in the first half.
The Lancers picked up their game offensively, but got no closer than their 14-point halftime deficit in SCC’s 46-29 win.
Crest head coach Travis Hermreck summed up the Titans nicely: “They’re a good team, they’re a veteran team, and they have a great player.”
Hermreck was referring to True, who nearly matched Crest point-for-point, scoring 26 by game’s end.
“We’re not going to see many players this season with his skill set,” Hermreck said.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve started with a win,” said SCC head coach Brandt Miller, noting the Titans traditionally open each season against Crest. “They’ve had a lot of talented athletes over the years, and they have some talented athletes this year. They’re just pretty young.”
The key to the win, Miller said, was SCC’s defense.
With True and Chism disrupting life for the Lancer guards on the perimeter, the Titan post players — particularly senior Angus Young — focused much of their attention on Crest standout Brock Ellis.
“He’s going to score a lot of points for them this year,” Miller said. “He’s big and fast and can move very well. It was our responsibility to stay in his way, to make him shoot over us.”
Ellis was limited to five points, while showing no apparent effects from the knee injury he suffered at the state tournament in March.
“I actually left Brock in a bit longer than I expected,” Hermreck said. “We want him to get back into the grind, and he did very well.”
The Titans led 7-4 midway through the first quarter when Nelson provided the first of several highlight plays for SCC. His behind-the-back pass on a fast break led to a Walker Harred layup. True scored on a drive on Southern Coffey County’s next possession, giving the Titans an 11-4 lead.
Kellen Ramsey scored all six of Crest’s points in the first quarter. He scored with about 7 seconds left in the first period — the Lancer’s last field goal for a 4 1/2-minute stretch.
True had five points, while Josiah Witteman and Newkirk added field goals as part of a 10-0 run to start the second period.
Austin Green’s jumper with 3:30 left in the half was Crest’s only field goal in the second period.
“We know we’re going to get better on offense,” Hermreck said, “but I was a little disappointed in our effort in the first half. We were very scared, very young. We finally got rid of our nerves after halftime, but a veteran team like that isn’t just going to let you play hard and catch up. Still, the second half was a step in the right direction for us.”
Green’s 3-pointer with 1:43 left in the third trimmed Southern Coffey County’s lead to 31-17. But True responded by scoring the Titans’ next six points. His jumper with 2:47 left in the game pushed SCC’s lead over 20 for the first time.
Witteman added nine points for the Titans.
Despite the win, SCC struggled mightily from the free throw line, hitting only 12 of 27 attempts. Crest was 5 of 9 from the line.
Green’s nine points paced Crest. Evan Godderz and Ramsey both added six.
Crest won the junior varsity matchup, 54-36. Godderz and Brandon Brallier led Crest’s JV with 20 and 15 points, respectively. Dakota Gibson and Bryce Isch each had 10 for the Titans.
Southern Coffey County heads to Yates Center on Monday to open play in the Wildcat Invitational against the host team. Crest will be in Humboldt on Tuesday for the Cubs’ preseason tournament to take on Erie.
Crest (6-4-7-12—29)
SCC (11-13-9-13—46)
Crest (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Frazell 0-0-5-0, Green 2/1-2-5-9, Godderz 2/1-0-1-7, Strickler 0-0-1-0, Brallier 1-0-0-2, Ellis 1-3-3-5, Miller 0-0-1-0, Ramsey 3-0-4-6. TOTALS: 9/2-5-20-29.
SCC (FG-FT-F-TP): True 9-8-2-26, Newkirk 2-2-2-6, Nelson 1-1-3-3, Witteman 4-1-4-9, J. Gibson 0-0-2-0, Harred 1-0-1-2. TOTALS: 17-12-14-46.
It’s True: SCC thumps Crest
