Wow! What a game. You read that SK won in overtime by 4 against the number 4 seed Williamstown and you probably automatically think that SK didn’t play well. Not at all. Using statistics to describe this game really don't do this game justice. It was awesome.
There was a little bit of everything in this contest. The first half was marked by some of the best shooting I have ever seen in a high school game. Williamstown guard Patrick Spoonamore absolutely lit it up. He went for 23 points in the first half and connected on 6 treys. Poor defense you say? Nope, he had SK players draped on him and was hitting shots several feet behind the three point line.
The game was also marked by a huge comeback. SK trailed by at least 14 points in the second half. They dug down and overcame the deficit. You just kind of had the feeling that they were going to push the right buttons and get over the hump. They did.
The game featured seniors refusing to lose. Every SK senior on the team contributed in some way. Langdon Barnes scored 27 points and had the “gimme the ball” look on his face as he put the team on his shoulders during a stretch in the third quarter. He connected on back to back and one plays that pulled SK back even with the Demons. Grant Schneider came in and got rebounds, played strong defense and dove on the floor. Tyler Blau came in and took defensive turns on Spoonamore and kept the ball alive on the offensive glass. Grant Schreiner came in and grabbed a couple of boards. Ethan Ball drove to the bucket for an “and one: that got the crowd fired up. Darien Lanham hit foul shots in OT and got big rebounds when he needed to. The Williamstown seniors played hard as well. Ironically, in spite of all of the senior heroics, it was a SK freshman who hit the big shot in OT.
After leaving the game, you probably can’t forget that there were pep bands and a loud student section. You certainly realized it after you got in your car and felt the ringing of your ears from the decibels cranking through the gym. The Williamstown pep band was big and loud. I counted over 60 kids with an instrument of some sort and I am sure I missed some of them. I think calling them a pep band is bit of a misnomer. The Demon pep band was more like a marching band in stands. Coach Steiner took his timeouts almost at half-court. The Williamstown student section took up a whole section in the stands. They never sat down the whole game. I will say that the SK pep band was nice sized and a little more volume appropriate for the gym. You have to feel for the Dunkin Donut ladies, Cartwright and Sheldon, as they sat in the front row of the Williamstown student section. They appeared to be flat worn out after the game. The SK student section? I never saw one. Too bad the students missed this one.
Drama was another big part of this contest. The crowds took turns coming to their feet. Big play on one end was met by a big play on the other end. There was an SK fan escorted from the gym after apparently getting a little too rowdy. Drama filled the end of the game on both ends of the floor. The final piece of drama was whether the numerous subs Steiner used could eventually wear down the Demons.
Finally, this was one of those games where you would say it was too bad one of these teams had to lose. This is one of the most overused sports clichés but I really felt bad for the Williamstown kids after their gutty performance. Sure, I was glad the SK boys pulled out the win and will get a chance to play at the Roy in Henry County next week. However, you had to feel bad for the Williamstown team. Those kids played with every bit of intensity they could muster which reminded everyone who witnessed this game what Kentucky High School basketball is all about. The Williamstown pep band playing “My Old Kentucky Home" was a fitting close to this game as it just seemed to cement our basketball. Congrats to both teams on an outstanding night of basketball.
Lang with one of his And Ones.
Grant getting after it.
Zach got this And One.
Think I was kidding about 60?
Chambers with 17 on the night.
Faces in the crowd. Randall Jr. with his face painted going nuts. The real Randall in the upper right. Grumpy man in front row with arms folded-what is he mad about?
I wonder why he never takes his jacket off anymore?
WOW, what a game 14.
Guarding the Dunkins
