CROTHERSVILLE
Coach Bobby Riley has been looking for players to step up and help Cable Spall put the Crothersville boys basketball team in the win column.
Spall had his usual big game in the scoring column against Medora on Saturday night with 24 points.
However, it was the production from Jacob Moeller, Zach Helt, Damian Bowman and others that pleased Riley.
Moeller scored a career-high 29 points, Helt netted a career-high 15 and Bowman scored nine and had eight rebounds as the Tigers rolled over the Hornets 83-45.
“I’m hoping we’re starting to turn the corner a little bit,” Riley said, “I’m seeing Jacob Moeller have a good game. That’s encouraging to see more players score than just one or two.”
Seven Tigers scored as the team had a season-high point total.
This one got away from the Hornets early as they missed their first six shots from the floor and committed six turnovers in the first six minutes of play, allowing the Tigers to jump on top 19-0.
Moeller had a hot hand from the start by drilling three 3-pointers and scoring 12 points in the first period. Spall added nine points and Helt scored two baskets to spark the Tigers to the early lead.
Braxton McCory finally hit a basket for the Hornets at the 1:45 mark, but the Tigers took a 25-6 lead into the second period.
The Tigers held a 40-20 lead at the half and a 60-34 lead going into the fourth period.
Riley said he told his players they had to continue to play hard.
“Medora has some players,” he said. “A couple of times, they clawed back to where they started to get to where it was a ballgame again. We shot the ball well (30 of 59), and we made nine 3-pointers tonight. That is the most we’ve had in a game this season, and that’s important because if you can’t shoot the 3s, it’s hard to open things up in the middle. We’re starting to take the pressure off Cable. He knows he’s getting support from some other guys.”
Riley said his team has been under quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic three times during the season.
“Three times we had to be shut down for two weeks,” he said. “It’s like starting all over when you come back with conditioning and put in our plays. It’s still a new group. We knew without summer ball and with all the COVID stuff that went on that it would take some time for us time to figure out who we are, and they’re starting to figure out their roles a little bit. I’m seeing guys take better care of the ball and make the right passes. I think we’re almost where we would have been if we would have had summer ball.”
The Tigers (2-9) finished with seven turnovers, and the Hornets had 17.
Moeller said he gained confidence when his shots kept going in during the first period.
“When I came out, I was just looking to move the ball around and shoot open shots,” Moeller said. “I know I can hit 3-pointers, so when they leave me open in a zone, I’m going to bust it and make them go to man.
“When they went to man in the third and fourth, I could start driving to the basket and pass to my teammates. Cable makes the game so easy because he draws double-teams. I’m happy I’m becoming more consistent. I’ve been working on my shot for a while.”
Moeller had six 3-pointers, four 2-pointers and was 3-for-4 at the line for his 29 points. He made four 3-pointers and scored 16 points during the Tigers’ game Friday night at South Central.
Spall had 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Shephard Earl was high scorer for Medora (2-10) with 17 points, and McCory added 12. Earl was high rebounder for the Hornets with eight.
Two Medora players received technical fouls from the officials during the second half, and that was disappointing for coach Mark Morin.
“The worst thing was getting two technicals,” he said. “There is nothing more embarrassing than getting your butt kicked and act like that, although I didn’t see what they did to get either one of them. I told them that when you’re down 40, it looks pretty silly to argue calls. You just need to play.”
The Tigers begin a busy week with a game Tuesday at New Washington, then will host Trinity Lutheran on Friday and Columbus Christian on Saturday night.
Medora will travel to Eminence on Friday and host Cannelton on Saturday night.
Box score
At Crothersville
Medora;6;14;14;11;—;45
Crothersville;25;15;20;23;—;83
Crothersville (2-9): Cable Spall 7 9-10 24, Jacob Moeller 10 3-4 29, Quinten Keasler 0 1-2 1, Zach Helt 7 0-2 15, Damian Bowman 4 1-2 9, Elijah Plasse 1 0-0 3, Devin Morgan 1 0-0 2, Matt Clouse 0 0-0 0. Totals: 30 9-14 83.
Medora (2-10): Braxton McCory 4 1-2 12, David Persinger 3 0-0 7, Shepard Earl 6 5-7 17, Eli Sturgill 2 1-2 5, Jayden Brown 1 0-0 2, Maria Cobb 0 0-0 0, Wesley Holstine 0 0-0 0, Jenna Bowers 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 7-9 45.
3-point goals: C (Moeller 6, Spall, Helt, Plasse), M (McCory 3, Persinger)
Rebounds: C 34 (Spall 11, Bowman 8), M 27 (Earl 8, McCory 7)
Turnovers: C 7, M 17
Fouls: C 14, M 11
Junior varsity
Crothersville 51, Medora 14
Crothersville: Morgan 15, Clouse 12, Logen O’Sullivan 10, Bowman 6, Plasse 5, Andrew Stainbrook 2, Helt 1
Medora: Aarlayn Hackney 5, Mariah Cobb 4, Zach Cobb 3, Kacie Inscoe 2