~by Dustin Teays for The Scranton Journal
The Paton-Churdan Rockets boys basketball team has continued to improve upon their season from a year ago. The Rockets finished last year with just one win; this year, they’ve earned six.
In their last week of action, they earned their sixth win of the year with a 68-41 victory over West Harrison. There were other games last week: a 54-38 loss to West Central Valley and a 60-52 loss to the CAM Cougars.
In their game against the West Harrison Hawkeyes, the Rockets had two strong halves, but one more so than the other. Going into halftime, the Rockets had built a 28-16 lead, but a strong third quarter ballooned their lead as they outscored the Hawkeyes 28-9 in the third quarter to cruise to their sixth win of the year.
Not to have his career high only be 30 points, sophomore Trevon Keely bested that mark, which was set this year by two points, with a game-high 32 points. It was a game in which Keely seemed like he couldn’t miss as he shot 66.7 percent from the floor and was a force to be reckoned with.
The rest of the team played extremely well, as Phoenix Hartman had 14 points, Bryce Stephenson had eight, Kinnick Steimel had six, and Damen Rice had four. Keely led the team in rebounding with 10, which also gave him a double-double, and Steimel was second on the team with six. Keely also led the team in assists with eight, and Stephenson was second with six.
Against West Central Valley, the Rockets just struggled to get things going offensively as they were outscored in each quarter. Hartman led the team in points with 15, Keely was second with eight.
During the game against the CAM Cougars, the Rockets were playing catch up the entire game after being outscored in the first quarter 16-4, but the couldn’t quite complete the comeback, ultimately losing by just eight points. Stephenson led the team in rebounds with nine and Hartman was second with seven boards.
The regular season for the Rockets boys is quickly coming to an end with just four games left on the schedule. They were expected to face the Coon Rapids-Bayard Crusaders on Monday, the Exira-EHK Spartans on Tuesday and then Woodward Academy on Thursday. They will close out their regular season against the Woodbine Tigers on Feb.10.
