|
After a disappointing three point loss to the Millstadt Panthers on Monday, the Dupo Tigers 8th Grade Boys Basketball team were looking to shake off the loss and advance to the consolation championship of the SS. Peter & Paul Catholic School Holiday Tournament in Waterloo. The Valmeyer Pirates had the same idea but came up short as the Tigers eliminated Valmeyer from the tournament by a score of 47-25.
In the first half the Tigers looked like a team still trying to shake off the rust after a three-week layoff prior to the tournament. Missing passes and shots while turning the ball over the Tigers were still able to take the lead early and hold onto it leading11-7 at the end of the first quarter.
The Pirates responded in the second quarter turning up the defensive pressure and forcing the Tigers into turnovers as they scored four unanswered points to tie it at 11-11. While the Tigers play continued to be sloppy they still found enough offense to retake the lead at 17-14 with 3:00 left in the second quarter as their defensive play and rebounding was giving them the edge over the Pirates. Dupo outscored the Pirates 11-9 in the second quarter to maintain their lead 22-16 at the half.
Both teams played well in the third quarter matching each other’s scores and playing good defense. But the Tigers seemed to be maintaining their edge and their lead winning 26-21 with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter and extending it further to 32-21 with 1:34 remaining in the third quarter. The Pirates tried to cut into the Tigers lead but had difficulty as the Tigers dominated the boards and limited Valmeyer’s second chance opportunities on their way to a 34-25 lead after three quarters. Dupo Tigers Coach Kraig Roth said, “We dominated the boards tonight, I have no complaints about our rebounding. Tonight was nice, I feel like we’re getting back in the swing of things and it was a good team win. We had six different players score tonight and everybody played and contributed.”
The fourth quarter belonged to the Tigers. Looking like they were finally getting their game together the Tigers shut out the Pirates in the fourth quarter while scoring 13 points of their own to finish the game 47-25. The Tiger defense created turnovers that resulted in breakaway points for the Tigers as they cruised to victory and a shot at the consolation championship against the Prairie Du Rocher Hawks on Wednesday evening at 5:30.
The Dupo Tigers were led by #40 Willie Kidd who scored 21 points (14 in the second half) and #15 Tyler Barnes who scored 16 points. The Tigers had four other players who scored as well. Tigers’ Coach Roth said, “Our scoring was pretty balanced over the course of the game, eleven points in each of the first two quarters, twelve points in the third and then 13 points in the fourth quarter. The difference was that our defense stepped up in the second half especially in the fourth quarter. Our defense sets up the style of basketball we like to play. We like to move the ball up and down the court because on most nights we feel like we are the more athletic team.”
|
