Cagers Lose Tough One to Mohican Star Academy
December 15, 2023
The Cagers traveled to Perrysville looking to notch their first win of the season. However, after a hard-fought game, the visitors went down in defeat to the Conquerors of Mohican Star Academy by a score of 45-38.
The Cagers (0-3) won the tip and within a few seconds Matt Smotherman drove left to the hoop and finished to make it 2-0. But the Conquerors would answer to tie up the score. The Cagers would run their offense and find open looks, but just could not convert. On the other end, it was bombs away for the Conquerors. If it wasn’t a deep three-pointer, it was an aggressive rebound and put back that kept the home team in the lead. Thanks to two buckets by Trent Roe and a deep three-pointer by Anthony Gonzalez, the Cagers stayed in striking distance down 17-8 at the end of one quarter of play.
The second frame was a little better for the Cagers. Defensively they started to figure things and get out on the shooters. Offensively, freshman Noah Richardson would step up big. He started things off with a short jumper. Then added another two-pointer before draining one from downtown. In all, Richardson would score 7 points in the quarter. “We have really struggled scoring the ball this year and to have Noah step up in the second quarter was huge in keeping us in the game,” said Head Coach Doug Hamsher. Roe would also nail a three-pointer to help pace the Cagers. At half, the Cagers had cut the lead to 26-21.
The shooting woes returned for the Cagers in the 3rd quarter. It was as if the rim was closed. Time after time the Cagers would find an open look only to be denied. Whether it was a layup, a short jumper, or a three, nothing was falling. Defensively the Cagers were holding their own against a very athletic team. The Cagers could only muster 6 points in the frame—4 by Roe and 2 by Smotherman. Things didn’t look good going into the 4th down 37-27.
As the 4th quarter started, Coach Hamsher wanted to see what his team was made of. Defensively, they really found the rhythm to their zone. They were making stops and holding their own. And offensively they found a little life and a little fight. Roe cashed in on a bucket around the rim. Smotherman would bully his way for two and a free throw. And in no time flat the Cagers had cut the 10-point lead to 5 with just under 4 minutes to go. “We started making stops, and then for the first time this year we started to compete. The trick is to make competing a constant for 32 minutes. I think, with time, that’s gonna happen,” said Hamsher. After cutting the lead to 37-32, the Conquerors responded with a few buckets of their own to extend the lead back to 9. But Richardson would hit another big shot. And then Gonzalez would cut into the lead with a field goal. The Cagers were back in business. With the new foul rule in effect, the Cagers gave themselves a chance by making 8 trips to the foul line in the quarter. However, they only converted on three of those attempts. That’s a part of the game that Hamsher hopes to improve on. “We put ourselves in a position to win by getting to the foul line, now we just have to make them.” For the game, Roe led the Cagers with 14 points. Richardson had 10. Smotherman had 8. Gonzalez chipped in 5 points and Bridger Campbell fired in 1 point to round out the scoring column.
