Creston boys couldn’t finish comeback attempt

In the second quarter, the Creston boys scored just two points. They went into the half down 25-11 Tuesday to visiting Shenandoah (9-6).

But you’d never know it in the final minutes of the game as a putback by Rhett Driskell put the Panthers (1-11) just one bucket away from tying the game.

With 35 seconds left, Creston called a timeout as they trailed 44-41.

The Panthers brought out the press as Shenandoah inbounded the ball.

While the Mustangs were still in their back court, seniors CT Stalker and Jaxon Jondle double teamed Shenandoah’s Carter Sells. Stalker ripping the ball away and immediately going up for a 3-pointer.

The shot went over, but the Mustangs touched the ball before it went out of bounds, giving Creston another shot to tie with 28 seconds left.

The Panthers moved the ball around, looking for a good shot before senior Cael Barton let one go behind the arc. The ball bounced off the rim, players fighting for the rebound with under 10 seconds to play. In the end, Shenandoah came away with the ball, and a foul was called on Creston.

With one made free throw before the game’s end, Creston ended up falling 45-41 in the conference matchup.

Driskell continues to be the leading scorer for the Panthers, logging a game-high 25 points against the Mustangs. Driskell and Stalker each brought down six rebounds, Stalker scoring eight points.

Jondle came away with three steals, leading the Panthers in forced turnovers.

The Mustangs were led by Sells who scored 16, including four triples, and had five steals. Shenandoah had a height advantage on the Panthers on the boards with 6-8 Brody Burdorf snagging 11 rebounds.

Though the Panthers only had four free throw attempts, they made just one. Shenandoah fared only a little better, making six of 14.

Creston’s game scheduled for tonight at Kuemper Catholic has been postponed due to winter weather.

SHENANDOAH (45) — Totals (FG FT PTS) — 17 6-14 45. Carter Sells 5 2-4 16, Joe O’Rourke 4 0-0 8, Ryker Wolf 3 1-2 8, Gabe Buttry 3 1-2 7, Brody Burdorf 1 2-4 4, Michael Blane 1 0-2 2. 3-point goals — 5 (Sells 4, Wolf 1). Rebounds — 29 (Burdorf 11, Blaine 5, Buttry 4, Sells 3, O’Rourke 3, Wolf 3). Assists — 15 (Jones 5, E. Johnson 3, Sebeniecher 3, O’Neal 2). Steals — 9 (Sells 5, Wolf 2, O’Rourke 1, Burdorf 1). Blocked shots — 3 (Burdorf 3). Turnovers — 13. Team fouls — 4. Fouled out — None.

CRESTON (41) — Totals — (FG FT PTS) 18 1-4 41. Rhett Driskell 11 0-0 25, CT Stalker 3 1-2 8, Baret Lane 2 0-0 4, Tanner Ray 1 0-0 2, Ayden Purdum 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals — 4 (Driskell 3, Stalker 1). Rebounds — 29 (Driskell 6, Stalker 6, Purdum 4, Ray 3, Jaxon Jondle 3, Cael Barton 2, Jaxson Schaffer 1). Assists — 7 (Barton 1, Stalker 1, Nate Carroll 1, Jondle 1, Lane 1, Schaffer 1, Purdum 1). Steals — 8 (Jondle 3, Stalker 2, Driskell 1, Carroll 1, Ray 1). Blocked shots — 0. Turnovers — 19. Team fouls — 15. Fouled out — Driskell.