It was a game of misses and turnovers for the Indians at their first round in the basketball district championships. Nevertheless they finished with a clear 71-56 win over Marion County’s Knights and will play tomorrow at 7 p.m. in Taylor County for the district title.
In the beginning the Indians started with high pressure on the Knights and could establish a comfortable lead of around ten points, what they were able to carry through the game. 19-10 after the first quarter, in the second the Knights closed up to 24-19, but the Indians came back within two minutes to get a 42-30 at halftime.
In the second half the same: within less than two minute Adair went to a 46-32, but then several mistakes, turnovers and missed shots brought the Knights back to 54-45 after the third. The Knights came back, the Indians came back… The gap was steadily waving between 5 and 12 points, until the Indians showed a strong finish, the Knights felt the breeze, and Adair could secure the win.
Some stats that show the not optimal shot performance: Field goals 51.8% (56 attempted/29 made), three-pointers 18.8% (16/3), free throws 76.9% (13/10), but impressive 40 rebounds. Best rebounder were Isaiah Cochran (11), Connor Loy and Lane Grant (8 each), Brayton Coomer (6), Dawson Gilbert and Carter White (2 each), and Blane Bardin, Matthew MeJean and Camden Burton (1 each). Scorers: Loy (21), Cochran (19), Grant (16), White (6), Bardin (5), Coomer and Gilbert (2 each).
“The first game in post season always hardest to win,” head coach Deron Breeze said after the game and mentioned the good three-point shooting performance of Marion: “They shot just nine out of 34 for two, but ten out of 17 for three. They had been 25%, so they made shots, and outscored us by 21 from three as a team. But we still won by 15–that was pretty positive. Also we out-rebounded them 40-19, placed an emphasis on offensive rebounding in that game and we had 14.”
On Friday, March 1, at 7 p.m. the Indians will play the winner of the game Taylor County vs. Campbellsville (played after the Community Voice went into print) for the district title.
