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Panther basketball defeats Penney; fall to Oak Park
KANSAS CITY – Creston’s boys basketball team took part in the inaugural 12 Courts of Christmas on Wednesday and Thursday at Hy-Vee Arena, formerly known as Kemper Arena.
Creston defeated the Penney Yellow Jackets (Class 3, Missouri) 59-47 and lost to the Oak Park Northmen (Class 6, Missouri) 50-35.
The event, which hosted 136 boys and girls high school teams from Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Iowa, was held in a shoot-out format meaning no champion was crowned.
Creston was part of the 12 Courts of Christmas due to head coach Bryce Schafer’s connection with the director of the event, Steve Maxey.
“For 16 years, I directed a similar event in Trenton, Missouri, on the campus of North Central Missouri College,” Maxey said. “At that point I had the opportunity to meet Bryce Schafer and Scott Driskell. They participated in that event [NCMC Holiday Hoops] two, maybe three years, and they’ve always brought great kids to that event. We value the relationship we have with Creston.”
Davidson takes over against Penney
Tony Davidson’s 21 points and nine rebounds paced Creston (3-3) in a 59-47 defeat of Penney on Wednesday night. Patrick Varner had 11 points for the Panthers, who shot 42.9% (27 of 63) from the floor and had 40 total rebounds.
The Hornets led 18-13 after the first quarter. Creston outscored Penney 23-5 in the second quarter which gave the Panthers a 36-23 halftime lead.
“I thought we came out a little flat to be honest,” Schafer said. “I think a lot of that had to do with the energy level of the arena.”
Creston led 43-30 after the third quarter
Making the most of each possession, defensive and offensive, will be critical for the Panthers once the Hawkeye 10 Conference season resumes in 2022.
“I think we’re capable of being a really good defensive team if we don’t take possessions off,” Schafer said. “Obviously, Tony scoring 21 was extremely helpful. They didn’t really have an answer for any of our bigs getting to the bucket.”
Panthers have good showing against Class 6 Oak Park
Kyle Strider’s 13 points led Creston (3-4) Friday afternoon in a 50-35 loss to the Oak Park Northmen. Avery Fuller had 10 points. After the first quarter, Oak Park led 11-8 and at halftime Oak Park extended their lead to 24-14.
“I think we rose to the occasion,” Schafer said. “In the fourth quarter it was an eight-point game. Defensively, I thought we played excellent. We played physical and we turned them into a contested jump shot shooting team which isn’t their game.”
Two runs, as well as free throw shooting, were the key data points in the loss.
“We turned the ball over on two possessions and they got easy baskets off of it,” Schafer said. “They were 80% at the free throw line and we went 2-for-10.”
A key takeaway for coach Schafer from the 12 Courts of Christmas is his top-eight players.
“Fuller, Davidson, Paup, Khalil, Kyle, Patrick Varner, Cael Turner, Ethan Crawford, that would be that group,” Schafer said. “That’s the best defensive group that we have.”
If Creston boys basketball could have a new year’s resolution in 2022, coach Schafer boiled it down to a single topic.
“Vision,” Schafer said. “Especially for our guards, their ability to see the floor. I think we have a real mismatch with our bigs against the bigs we’ll be going up against as our bigs can run.”
Creston is next in action at home against Clarinda on Jan. 4. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Creston 59, Penney 47
CRESTON (59) – (FG FT PTS) Totals – 27 3-6 49. Tony Davidson 9 3-6 21, Patrick Varner 5 0-0 11, Khalil Sherrod 4 0-0 8, Avery Fuller 3 0-0 6, Cael Turner 3 0-0 6, Kyle Strider 2 0-0 5, Derek Paup 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals (2) – Varner 1, Strider 1.
PENNEY (47) – (FG FT PTS) Totals – 20 4-8 47. Andrew Rich 7 2-4 17, Bryson Speer 0-1 10, Tucker Ross 2 2-3 6, Jared Potts 2 0-0 4, Nate Wyckoff 1 0-0 3, Gideon Mcbee 1 0-0 3, Titus Mcbee 1 0-0 2, Treyson Burke 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals (3) – Rick 1, Wyckoff 1, G. Mcbee 1.
Oak Park 50, Creston 35
OAK PARK (50) – (FG FT PTS) Totals – 18 13-19 50. Aediu Fields 6 5-5 18, Corbin Allen 4 3-5 11, Winston Allen 3 2-4 8, Xavier Williams 2 1-2 5, Caleb Estes 1 2-2 4, Julijano Sokoli 2 0-1 4. 3-point goals (1) – Fields 1.
CRESTON (35) – (PTS) Totals – 35. Kyle Strider 13, Avery Fuller 10, Cael Turner 5, Derek Paup 3, Khalil Sherrod 2, Patrick Varner 2. 3-point goals (3) – Strider 2, Turner 1.