​Eagles continue to play well without star guard, top Blue Knights 60-49

by Michael Smith
 
 
The Grain Valley boys basketball team has been missing a key part of their team for the past four games.

Star guard Eli Herbert has been out of action since Dec. 29 due to an illness, which caused him to spend six days in a hospital. He was recently released and returned home on Monday and is recovering.

In Thursday’s semifinal matchup with Ewing Marion Kauffman in the Pleasant Hill tournament, Herbert was on the bench in street clothes supporting his teammates.

The Eagles were able to play quality basketball even without one of their leaders and their leading scorer. Grain Valley overcame a 35-29 halftime deficit and got a big boost from centers Stylz Blackmon and Sam Pendergrass offensively and turned up the defensive intensity during a 60-49 victory at Pleasant Hill High School.

“We challenged our post men to be more active,” Grain Valley head coach Andy Herbert said. “We challenged about little things, fundamental things. They did a great job of executing those things we talked about.”

The Eagles will play in the championship game against Kansas City Central at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Andy Herbert said he expects his son Eli to return at some point this season but doesn’t have an exact timetable.

When Eli was playing, teams focused the bulk of their defensive attention to stopping Herbert and often double teamed him on the perimeter to force him to give up the basketball. Without their star guard, the Eagles have seen opposing defense switch their attention to stopping their two big man, Pendergrass and Blackmon.

“We haven’t changed who we are and how we play,” Herbert said. “We’ve got plenty of guys who know how to score and do different things. It has changed the way teams have guarded us because they are not selling out to one person.”

Ewing Kauffman was unable to do so as Blackmon scored a team-high 16 points and Pendergrass added 14 as they both had the size advantage inside.

Grain Valley (7-5) outscored the Blue Knights 22-6 in the third quarter to take a 51-41 lead into the final period. Blackmon dominated in the paint, scoring 10 points in the quarter. He found success getting set in the high post or 15 feet from the basket on the baseline. He when would flash to the basket and a guard would find him on a pass over the top to get the senior a good look at the basket.

“I think early on, we were trying to get me more involved and everyone else later on,” Blackmon said. “We knew there was a mismatch going into the game and we wanted to exploit that. They started doubling (me) and that opened up our offense.”

Added Marcum: “When someone on the other team helps from the backside to double Stylz, the skip pass is always open. And that’s a long close out for the defense or it opens up a drive to the basket.”

Pendergrass, a 6-foot-6 sophomore, used a similar strategy to get his baskets as Ewing Marion Kauffman didn’t have anyone with the size to contest his shots at the rim.

The defense also proved to be much better for the Eagles in the second half. They forced six Blue Knight turnovers in the third quarter and held the opposition to just 6 for 29 shooting from the field (20.6 percent).

“We had a spirited discussion at halftime to encourage more defense and they did a good job,” Herbert said. “They took the challenge and accepted it.”

Senior guard Logan Marcum also had a big impact on the Eagles maintaining their lead in the fourth quarter as he scored five of his 13 points in the final eight minutes. Since Herbert has been out, Marcum said he’s tried to be more aggressive on offense.

“It wasn’t a big adjustment, but I felt like I had to be a little more aggressive offensively,” Marcum said. “We’re losing a very good scorer on our team. Before we were trying to play through Stylz and Eli. Now we are trying to play through everyone together.”

The Blue Knights pulled within seven points at one point in the fourth quarter but were unable to get any closer.

Grain Valley senior Jack Schoen drives to the basket. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Grain Valley senior center Stylz Blackmon looks to put up a shot against two defenders during Grain Valley's 60-49 win over Ewing Marion Kaufman Thursday in the semifinals of the Pleasant Hill Invitational. Blackmon put in a team-high 16 points for Grain Valley. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Grain Valley senior guard Logan Marcum prepares to unleash a shot during halftime warmups. He scored 13 points. Photo credit: Michael Smith