01/22/10 - Kewanee
January 26, 2010
VIEW GAME PHOTOS By Michelle Anderson
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http://www.rfrocketssports.com/Winter-Sports/Boys-Basketball/012210-Kewanee/11027043_Mjy3Z#771299620_mVEiV
Rockets stunned by Kewanee,
blow 12 point 4th quarter lead
By Bob Martin
Kewanee 9 22 8 22 61
Rock Falls 18 15 18 8 59
Rock Falls – January 22, 2010
It was just Monday of this week, that Rock Falls (12-8, 3-3) stormed back from an 11 point deficit with 4:30 to play to defeat Providence Catholic. It was thought this victory would give the Rockets great confidence as they entered this critical part of the season. But the resurgent Boilermakers of Kewanee were also on top of the world, coming off their best victory of the year when they upended conference standout, IVC, with a buzzer beater last Friday night. As Kewanee is leaving the NCIC after this year and joining the 3 Rivers Conference, this visit to Forest Tabor Gymnasium was their last and one of the more memorable ones for the Boilersmakers.
Both teams opened the contest playing high energy man to man defenses and the play was intense, athletic, and relatively error free. After playing even for the first few minutes (7-7, 3:08) the Rockets took control and moved to a 9 point lead when the first stanza ended (18-9). The Rockets big trio of Matt Lauts, Jake Junis, and Tevin Rumley led the way scoring 16 of the Rocket’s first quarter points.
In the 2nd period the young Boilers (1 senior, 4 juniors start) tenaciously fought and managed to gain 1 point leads twice towards the end of the stanza, before Rock Falls finally reclaimed the lead by 2 points at halftime (33-31). Rocket scoring was dominated in the first half by Rumley (13 points) and Junis (12 points).
After Kewanee opened the 3rd quarter with a 3 pointer to take the lead, the Rockets responded with an 11-0 run. Shay Brown fed Dylan Austin who nailed a trifecta, then Lauts scored on a post move. Kewanee lost their composure for a few minutes and threw the ball away on consecutive possessions which the Rockets capitalized on when Junis fed Rumley for a dunk. After a Kewanee time out, they were whistled for 3 seconds in the lane and on the Rock Falls end, Junis successfully drove. Again Kewanee threw the ball away, and Lauts on a great hustle play, maintained possession, and fed Brett Chappell for a layup (44-34, 2:40). After Kewanee stopped the run, Rumley countered, scoring on a post move but the Boilers responded with a 3 ball. JC McNinch made 1 of 2 free throws, Rumley blocked a shot and the Boilers regained possession only to travel. Rumley capitalized on the turnover by feeding Austin for a layup. On the next Kewanee shot, Rumley again blocked it, and Kewanee thought there was a foul and ended up with a technical. Unfortunately the Rockets missed both shots but Austin succeeded in scoring the last points of the quarter on a drive (51-39).
The 4th quarter was a total disaster for Rock Falls and one which Kewanee will relive with great joy for some time to come. The Rockets who were taking good care of the ball for 3 quarters, managed to commit 10 turnovers in the last period, setting up the opportunity for the Kewanee comeback. Kewanee scored the first 7 points of the quarter to make the deficit more manageable (51-46, 6:39). Junis put the Rockets on the board with a drive and after the Rockets missed the front end of a one and one, Lauts knocked down 2 free throws (55-46, 5:53). After Kewanee made 2 fieldgoals, the follow sequence of non-scoring plays occurred; Rockets errant pass, Rumley blocked a shot, Rockets guilty of charging, Rockets travel, Rockets stripped of ball, Kewanee charged, Rockets stripped of ball, Rockets errant pass, Kewanee guilty of charging. The last play was very significant as this was the 5th foul on dead-eye shooter, Jordan Hart, who made 5 long balls on the night. Finally the Rockets scored when Lauts fed Austin for a layup (57-50, 2:40). Kewanee notched a field goal on their possession, the Rockets missed, and then fouled a Boiler attempting a 3 pointer. He converted on 2 of 3 free throws (57-54, 1:53). Kewanee fouled the Rockets, now shooting in the super bonus, and they missed both shots. Kewanee worked the ball on offense and finally found an open shooter who nailed a 3 ball (58-57, 0:54). The Rockets worked the clock and eventually Junis was sent to the line where he made 1 of 2. Next was an improbable play by Kewanee. Their ball handler drove the lane, lost his balance and slid across the paint with the ball heading out of bounds. Another Boiler dove to save the ball and managed to feed his teammate under the basket who laid it in while being fouled (59-59, 0:26). Happily for the Rockets, the free throw was missed, and while the Rockets fought to gain control of the rebound, were whistled for stepping on the line. Kewanee ragged the ball to kill the clock as the Rockets avoided fouling and hoped to get the stop. With seconds remaining, the Boiler guard drove the lane and attracted a crowd. He threw up a well defended shot which fell short and as 20 arms reached to control the rebound one or more managed to tip the ball in as the buzzer sounded. Kewanee guard, Matt Carlson, was credited with the tip, but a video review will be necessary to know for sure.
The Rocket loss overshadowed a tremendous effort by Matt Lauts who played with great heart and determination, and whose accomplishments did not all show up in the box score. Rumley and Junis also turned in solid efforts for Rock Falls.
Now that the Rocket’s hopes for a conference title have been dashed, they must regroup, and prepare for the coming tough weekend.
Rocket Scorers:
Tevin Rumley 18
Jake Junis 17
Matt Lauts 12
Dylan Austin 7
JC McNinch 3
Brett Chappell 2
Next Up:
Jan 29: Home against Princeton
Jan 30: Home against Rockford Lutheran
Feb 5: Home against IVC
