WEBSTER COUNTY, KY (12/5/12) – Webster County’s boys basketball team lost 98 percent of its scoring to graduation last season, with seven seniors leaving the halls of WCHS. That lack of point production proved to be the difference in the two opening games for the Trojans this season. Webster fell to Evansville Day School last Tuesday and then dropped its second game to Owensboro on Friday.

Webster County 37
Day School 40
The Trojans started the game with a flurry last Tuesday in the season opener for both schools in Evansville. Some hot shooting propelled WCHS to a 15-6 lead at the first quarter break; but the Trojans quickly cooled and managed just 22 points the rest of the way, including an ice cold, four-point second quarter.

“We started 0-2 last year as well so no one is hanging their heads,” noted head coach Jon Newton, whose Trojans won 21 games and the 6th District title last season. “We know it’s a long season and we have to take it day-by-day.”

Webster held a slim 19-14 lead at intermission but saw Day School go on a 11-6 run in the third quarter, fueled partly by several WCHS turnovers. The Trojans committed 15 miscues in the game.

“The things that are hurting us right now are taking care of the basketball, finishing shots, and executing late in the game. But again, we are young and inexperienced, so in time those areas will hopefully improve,” Newton added.

Day School closed out the game with a 15-12 advantage to earn the 3-point victory, hitting crucial free throws down the stretch. Senior guard Logan Prow was the only Trojan in double figures, finishing with 12 points. Fellow seniors Dan Boswell and Kyle Hayes added eight points each while J. D. Newton scored six points and matched Boswell with a team-high six rebounds. Mason Roland completed the scoring with one 3-pointer.

Webster County 36
Owensboro 54
WCHS looked a bit out of sync on its home floor Friday night as the athletic Red Devil squad forced 22 turnovers and cruised to an easy win at Trojan gym. The Trojans matched baskets with Owensboro in the opening half, trailing 12-8 at the first break with both teams scoring 10 points in the second quarter for a 22-18 halftime score.

“I’ve seen some good things in the first two games. I thought we’ve started both games strong both offensively and defensively which is a good sign for a young, inexperienced team,” Coach Newton stated. “We have competed and have been in six of the eight quarters we’ve played, again, another positive note for us.”

OHS used a 15-8 in the third quarter to take a 37-26 lead at the end of the frame with several critical Webster turnovers leading to easy baskets. The Red Devils put the game away in the final eight minutes with a 17-10 run as the Trojans committed six turnovers in the final five minutes of the game.

“As a coach, I want to see us improve game by game and learn from our mistakes. We have a long way to go but we have seen some bright spots in these first two games,” Newton concluded.

Dan Boswell and Kyle Hayes led the Trojans with 10 points each. Boswell also had a team-high eight rebounds. Logan Melton and Madison Melton added five points each while Mason Roland and Zac Shoulders nailed one 3-pointer apiece.

The Trojans managed just 14-of-43 shooting from the field, including 6-for-16 from behind the 3-point arc. Webster shot just three free throws in the contest, hitting two of the freebies. Owensboro held a slim 25-24 rebounding edge and was 19-of-40 from the field, 5-for-14 from behind the 3-point arc. Besides the 22 WCHS turnovers, the difference in the game came at the free throw line where the Red Devils hit 11-of-19 attempts.

Charlie Hust
J-E News

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