by Tracy McCue
The Wellington boys basketball team was eliminated by Circle in a rocking old-time gymnasium in Towanda 45-37 Tuesday evening in the first round of the sub-state.
The Crusaders finished the year at 8-13 that started horribly but turned out rather decently and promising.
Circle (11-9) will go on to play Wichita Trinity (15-6) Friday at Maize South gymnasium which defeated Mulvane handily 58-32 in another first round game.
Tuesday, Wellington won the battle of the field goals, but were beat on the line and the boards and that proved the difference in the game.
"They are not only big, but they can jump," said Brian Buchanan, Wellington head boys basketball coach. "Any time you are going up against 6-5 and 6-4 players inside, that is going to be a problem for us. And the fact that the move so quickly, makes them hard to guard."
It also didn't help Kanyon Kinder scored 13 points from the outside, adding to Circle's attack.
"I don't think he scored in Wellington," Buchanan said. "He really did a nice job for them from the outside."
Circle's best offensive game, though, came at the charity stripe. The Thunderbirds shot 21 of 30 free throws for the game — 13 of 18 in the fourth quarter alone. Wellington was 1 of 10 on the line.
For the game, Circle made just 10 field goals — seven in the third quarter. Wellington made 11 deuces and four treys.
Things looked good for Wellington for awhile. The Crusaders built an 18-13 halftime lead.
"I liked our look in the first half," Buchanan said. "After a sluggish start, we really made a lot of deflections and didn't allow an open shot. We kept (Jordan) Phillips to 9 points for the game. I think that showed how well we did defensively."
Neither team really got going early, each going 1 of 6 from the field in the first quarter and Circle leading 7-5.
"It was a physical game from the start — elbow being thrown all over the place, people going to the floor," Buchanan said. "That's what post-season basketball is all about."
Then in the second quarter, Wellington, which surprised Circle the week before at its home place with a 57-51 win, looked as if it was going to do it again.
Circle was rattled for awhile, as Wellington closed in. Levi Anderson's layup midway through the quarter gave the Dukes their first lead 14-12. Then Ryan Jenkins would nail a 3-pointer and the Crusaders were leading 17-13. Jordan Edward would cash Wellington's one and only free throw to make it 18-13 at the half.
But intermission proved to be a detriment for the Crusaders, because Wellington turned cold and Circle found its rhythm offensively. Circle scored the quarter's first seven points. Each team then traded baskets, before Kinder nailed a trey from the right key to make it 26-22. By quarter's end Circle was leading 30-22 — outscoring the Dukes 17-4.
That set up the play of the game when Brett Tunnell threw an ally-oop pass to Alex Gardinier slam dunk, a boy Wellington fans will remember from football. It was quite a play and with it came a 32-22 advantage.
Wellington was chasing thereafter. Although the Dukes were getting baskets on the other end, Circle was matching them on the other end at the free throw line. Circle made nine trips to the line in the fourth quarter alone, five of them in the final minute. And they made most of the free throws
"We had our chances," Buchanan said. "I really wanted us to win this game and get to Maize South so the boys can experience what post season is all about."
Circle 45 Wellington 37
Wellington — 7 6 17 15 — 45
Circle — 5 13 4 15 — 37
Wellington: Gurley 10, Ramsey 2, Anderson 6, Heath 2, Jo. Edwards 8, Jenkins 5, Vargas 4. Total: 11 (4) 1-10 37. Circle: Shepard 7, Tunnell 6, Kinder 13, Gardiner 8, Phillips 9.
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by Tracy McCue
The Wellington boys basketball team was eliminated by Circle in a rocking old-time gymnasium in Towanda 45-37 Tuesday evening in the first round of the sub-state.
The Crusaders finished the year at 8-13 that started horribly but turned out rather decently and promising.
Circle (11-9) will go on to play Wichita Trinity (15-6) Friday at Maize South gymnasium which defeated Mulvane handily 58-32 in another first round game.
Tuesday, Wellington won the battle of the field goals, but were beat on the line and the boards and that proved the difference in the game.
"They are not only big, but they can jump," said Brian Buchanan, Wellington head boys basketball coach. "Any time you are going up against 6-5 and 6-4 players inside, that is going to be a problem for us. And the fact that the move so quickly, makes them hard to guard."
It also didn't help Kanyon Kinder scored 13 points from the outside, adding to Circle's attack.
"I don't think he scored in Wellington," Buchanan said. "He really did a nice job for them from the outside."
Circle's best offensive game, though, came at the charity stripe. The Thunderbirds shot 21 of 30 free throws for the game — 13 of 18 in the fourth quarter alone. Wellington was 1 of 10 on the line.
For the game, Circle made just 10 field goals — seven in the third quarter. Wellington made 11 deuces and four treys.
Things looked good for Wellington for awhile. The Crusaders built an 18-13 halftime lead.
"I liked our look in the first half," Buchanan said. "After a sluggish start, we really made a lot of deflections and didn't allow an open shot. We kept (Jordan) Phillips to 9 points for the game. I think that showed how well we did defensively."
Neither team really got going early, each going 1 of 6 from the field in the first quarter and Circle leading 7-5.
"It was a physical game from the start — elbow being thrown all over the place, people going to the floor," Buchanan said. "That's what post-season basketball is all about."
Then in the second quarter, Wellington, which surprised Circle the week before at its home place with a 57-51 win, looked as if it was going to do it again.
Circle was rattled for awhile, as Wellington closed in. Levi Anderson's layup midway through the quarter gave the Dukes their first lead 14-12. Then Ryan Jenkins would nail a 3-pointer and the Crusaders were leading 17-13. Jordan Edward would cash Wellington's one and only free throw to make it 18-13 at the half.
But intermission proved to be a detriment for the Crusaders, because Wellington turned cold and Circle found its rhythm offensively. Circle scored the quarter's first seven points. Each team then traded baskets, before Kinder nailed a trey from the right key to make it 26-22. By quarter's end Circle was leading 30-22 — outscoring the Dukes 17-4.
That set up the play of the game when Brett Tunnell threw an ally-oop pass to Alex Gardinier slam dunk, a boy Wellington fans will remember from football. It was quite a play and with it came a 32-22 advantage.
Wellington was chasing thereafter. Although the Dukes were getting baskets on the other end, Circle was matching them on the other end at the free throw line. Circle made nine trips to the line in the fourth quarter alone, five of them in the final minute. And they made most of the free throws
"We had our chances," Buchanan said. "I really wanted us to win this game and get to Maize South so the boys can experience what post season is all about."
Circle 45 Wellington 37
Wellington — 7 6 17 15 — 45
Circle — 5 13 4 15 — 37
Wellington: Gurley 10, Ramsey 2, Anderson 6, Heath 2, Jo. Edwards 8, Jenkins 5, Vargas 4. Total: 11 (4) 1-10 37. Circle: Shepard 7, Tunnell 6, Kinder 13, Gardiner 8, Phillips 9.
