Dragons tighten up defense, sink 11 threes to handle AV
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Ste. Genevieve guard Parker Stomberg (2) hits a 3-point shot during second quarter boys basketball action against Arcadia Valley on Tuesday night in Ironton. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
By MATT KING
IRONTON – The Ste. Genevieve boys basketball team is looking to regain the performance level that accompanied a promising six-game win streak last month.
The slashing guards of Arcadia Valley offered a formidable test on Tuesday night for the Dragons, whose defense has struggled in instances to disrupt dribble penetration.
An adjustment late in the first quarter helped set the tone for Ste. Genevieve in a 65-45 road victory, along with 11 made shots from beyond the 3-point arc.
Arcadia Valley forward Wyatt Smith (5) catches a pass as Ste. Genevieve forward Maddox Sutton (4) defends during second quarter boys basketball action on Tuesday night in Ironton. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
Eli Bennett finished with 17 points after sinking five triples, and the Dragons committed only seven turnovers to sustain their positive start.
Ste. Genevieve (8-4) never trailed after Jeffrey Hunter and Bennett connected back to back from the perimeter, but briefly dropped the lead when three straight baskets brought the Tigers even.
Jarel Jackson and Dawson Boesing burrowed their way inside to score, seeking to induce contact, and Kaiden Keith backed down a defender for a spinning finish.
Keith added two more aggressive scores in the first quarter, and totaled 17 points with two steals. But defensive help in the paint enabled the Dragons to contain his teammates.
Alex Basler quickly distributed the ball to Bennett for two more 3-pointers, and Dominic Johnson sank a mid-range shot in between as the margin widened to 24-13.
Keith dribbled end to end for a layup, then made another by attacking off an ensuing steal. But Arcadia Valley (8-6) could not keep pace with the long-range strikes by the opposition.
Parker Stomberg drained his second 3-pointer, and beat the halftime buzzer on an inbounds play from the right baseline for a 38-27 lead. He finished with 12 points overall.
Ste. Genevieve guard Eli Bennett (30) works against trapping pressure from Arcadia Valley guards Jarel Jackson (12) and Evan Inman during first quarter boys basketball action on Tuesday night in Ironton. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
Jackson saw minimal action after picking up two early fouls, and was assessed his third personal just 1:05 into the third quarter.
Camden Brandel and Elijah Silvy chipped in six points each as their touches increased, but not before Stomberg dived on a loose ball and ripped another steal away on consecutive possessions.
Basler compiled 12 points, seven assists and three steals, and delivered a no-look gem to Hunter before finding Broden Kreitler for three on a surrounded bounce pass from the paint to the left corner.
Ste. Genevieve stretched the margin to 53-33 as Basler cruised in with a midcourt takeaway. He drove for three more field goals in the fourth quarter.
AV suffered an empty four-shot possession despite crashing the glass, and Johnson emerged from a scramble to find Bennett ahead for a layup at 60-41.
Hunter gave the Dragons four players in double figures with 11 points.
The Tigers saw their first competitive action in eight days. Alex Todd accounted for two of their three made 3-pointers.
Arcadia Valley forward Logan Dunn (20) releases a shot over Ste. Genevieve forward Simon Frische (15) during second quarter boys basketball action on Tuesday night in Ironton. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
