Results and more courtesy of Kewanee High School Athletics Department and Coach Matt Clark
Kewanee High vs Stillman Valley High School
Thursday, February 23
Game Time: 7:30pm
Location: Bureau Valley High School
Regional Semi-Final
Final Score:
Stillman Valley – 52
Kewanee – 46
Boilermakers fall short to Stillman Valley
Kewanee traveled to Bureau Valley High School Thursday night for a regional semi-final matchup versus the Stillman Valley Cardinals. The Boilermakers defeated IVC on Saturday in the quarterfinals and brought a 16-13 record into the game. The Cardinals entered the contest at 18-11 overall and the number 4 seed in the sectional complex.
The opening quarter was a back and forth struggle as both teams were slowed offensively by the opposing defense. The Boilers used there 1-3-1 zone defense while the much bigger Cardinals played a physical half court man to man defense. The height and strength of Stillman Valley was very evident in the first quarter. The Cardinals started five seniors that were all over 6 foot 2 which gave the Boilers trouble rebounding on the defensive end. At the end of one the score was tied 11-11 with junior Brady Clark leading the way with 7 points while fellow junior Will Rumbold dropped in 4 points and played some tremendous defense against the much bigger Cardinals interior players.
Quarter two would prove to be the difference in the game as Stillman Valley continued to get second chance opportunities to build a 28-21 lead at the half. The Boilermakers leading scorer Clark sprained his knee late in the second quarter which would limit his minutes in the second half.
The Boilermakers would regroup at the break and bring a tremendous team effort on the defensive end to keep the game close throughout the third quarter. The Boilers closed the quarter strong and would trail 35-30, giving them a chance in the final quarter.
Kewanee would play some of their most inspired basketball in the final quarter of their season as they continued to battle at both ends of the court. The Boilers were led by guards Blaise Lewis and Catrelle Reed as they kept Kewanee in the game offensively. Lewis scored 8 fourth quarter points as Reed had 5. The Boilermaker quartet of post players, senior Jaiden Little, juniors Rumbold and Blake Johnston, as well as, sophomore Davontae Jordan continued to give their all on defense to keep the game close till the end.
In the end the Cardinals size and experience won out as they held on to defeat the Boilermakers 52-46. Kewanee was led in scoring by Lewis with 18 followed by Clark with 10 in limited second half minutes. Catrelle Reed scored 7 while Rumbold played some of his best basketball of the season had 6. Blake Johnston continued to improve his play by scoring 4 points off the bench to go along with several rebounds while Jaiden Little rounded out the scoring by going 1-2 from the foul line.
Kewanee ends the season at 16-14 overall while having some up and down parts of the season but ending their 2022-23 season on a positive note with a tough team performance against a Stillman Valley team that had 12 seniors on it’s roster. Kewanee says good bye and thank you to their three seniors, James Campbell, Clark Heeren and Jaiden Little who were four year players for the Boilermaker program.