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The Illinois Valley Central boys only had one game for the week and it resulted in a heartbreaking 51-50 loss at Streator Jan. 31.
“I thought we played fairly well,” coach Jim Thornton said. “Our kids played hard and did well in that game.”
Things started out in the Ghosts’ favor when the team was able to establish a 13-9 lead in the opening quarter.
Sherrarr Tate played the role of general for the team in the first quarter, leading the offense with smart passes and speedy moves past defenders to score.
Tate was the team’s second leading scorer for the game with 11 points.
Defensively, the team was able to keep the Bulldog offense from setting itself up thanks to quick pressure and a strong press.
In the second quarter, however, Streator regained its offensive footing and began to knock down shots over the tough Ghost defense.
IVC’s offense did not rest and Jordan Seele stood tall in the low-post to bank in shots over Bulldog defenders.
Seele led the team with 14 points.
At halftime, IVC held a 26-23 lead.
Streator continued to battle in the third quarter and outscored the Ghosts by using smart decisions and not taking bad shots.
The Bulldogs high-percentage shot taking allowed them to stay in the game as well as their ability to draw fouls from the Ghosts when driving to the hoop.
Bryce Jackson and Nolan Seiler kept the game tight until the end by sinking shots over Bulldog defenders from all over the court as well as working the ball inside to Seele.
Streator, however, was able to make enough clutch shots down the stretch to win.
“We didn’t play as good as we could have down the stretch,” Thornton said. “We didn’t score on three of our last four possessions.”
The Ghosts (15-7, 2-1) next play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at North Central Illinois Conference foe Princeton.
“We need to play well,” Thornton said. “We have some tough games left against some really good teams.”
The Illinois Valley Central boys only had one game for the week and it resulted in a heartbreaking 51-50 loss at Streator Jan. 31.
“I thought we played fairly well,” coach Jim Thornton said. “Our kids played hard and did well in that game.”
Things started out in the Ghosts’ favor when the team was able to establish a 13-9 lead in the opening quarter.
Sherrarr Tate played the role of general for the team in the first quarter, leading the offense with smart passes and speedy moves past defenders to score.
Tate was the team’s second leading scorer for the game with 11 points.
Defensively, the team was able to keep the Bulldog offense from setting itself up thanks to quick pressure and a strong press.
In the second quarter, however, Streator regained its offensive footing and began to knock down shots over the tough Ghost defense.
IVC’s offense did not rest and Jordan Seele stood tall in the low-post to bank in shots over Bulldog defenders.
Seele led the team with 14 points.
At halftime, IVC held a 26-23 lead.
Streator continued to battle in the third quarter and outscored the Ghosts by using smart decisions and not taking bad shots.
The Bulldogs high-percentage shot taking allowed them to stay in the game as well as their ability to draw fouls from the Ghosts when driving to the hoop.
Bryce Jackson and Nolan Seiler kept the game tight until the end by sinking shots over Bulldog defenders from all over the court as well as working the ball inside to Seele.
Streator, however, was able to make enough clutch shots down the stretch to win.
“We didn’t play as good as we could have down the stretch,” Thornton said. “We didn’t score on three of our last four possessions.”
The Ghosts (15-7, 2-1) next play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at North Central Illinois Conference foe Princeton.
“We need to play well,” Thornton said. “We have some tough games left against some really good teams.”
