Eagles fast start leads to 60-50 win over Fort Osage

by Michael Smith
 

There is an old cliche in sports that states, “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”
 
For the Grain Valley boys basketball team, it was the opposite in Friday’s non-conference matchup with Fort Osage.
 
The Eagles used a variety of zone defenses in the first period and it flustered the offense of the Indians. They led 17-3 at the end of the first quarter and went on to get a 60-50 victory at home.
 
“We did a great job of communicating and rotating,” Grain Valley veteran head coach Andy Herbert said. “We call it motion defense. There’s rules but you can also ad lib. As long as things get covered it doesn’t matter.”
 
Fort Osage (3-1) outscored Grain Valley (2-1) by four points for the rest of the game, but the big lead the Eagles built in the first quarter ended up being the difference.
 
The Eagles shut off the paint that made it difficult for the Indians to get clean looks there. The rotations to open shooters behind the 3-point line were also sharp for the home team as Fort’s only basket came on a 3-pointer from junior forward Isaac Woodward, the team’s top scorer who was held to just nine points.
 
“We were dialed in and everything we did was with a purpose,” Eli Herbert said. “We had a really good week of practice and getting everything organized. We were ready to play tonight.
 
“When we are good defensively, the offense takes care of itself.”
 
Meanwhile junior Aaron Barr and sophomore Eli Herbert combined to hit two 3-pointers apiece to help build the early lead. One of Herbert’s threes was a buzzer-beater that he heaved up with a defender all over him.
 
Herbert, who is developing into a well-rounded player, finished with a game-high 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had four steals. Herbert was a force on offense, on the glass and on defense as he was consistently getting into passing lanes and challenging ball handlers and passers.
 
“It’s about not being one-dimensional, and I have never seen myself as one-dimensional,” Eli Herbert said. “I didn’t want to force threes and wanted to get more downhill. When I am active defensively and on the boards, everything translates better.”
 
Added Andy Herbert: “He’s gotten so much stronger and that helps him do everything better. He was proud of his rebound. He told me, ‘What did you think of that free-throw rebound?”
 
Barr also had himself a game as he chipped in with 12 points, which included a trio of treys. He helped Herbert space the floor from the perimeter which opened up driving lanes and post opportunities for their teammates.
 
“If I got the ball and I was open, I was going to let it fly,” Barr said. “I wanted to take smart shots.”
 
Fort Osage’s offense started to come alive in the second period as it cut the lead to 30-21 going into halftime.
 
In the third, Herbert helped Grain Valley creep the lead up to 48-37 at quarter’s end with a pair of threes early. Barr also had an impressive crossover dribble that helped him deke a Fort defender and he made a circus-style layup while getting fouled.
 
Fort Osage Dylan Ball got his team as close as eight points with a step-back 3-pointer at the top of the key midway through the fourth to make it 53-45. However, Grain Valley senior Logan Marcum, who had eight points, responded with a corner 3-pointer to quash the Indians’ hope of a comeback.

Grain Valley sophomore Eli Herbert heaves a 3-pointer and makes it at the buzzer while being defended by Fort Osage junior Ryver Peppers in the first quarter. He had a game-high 20 points in a 60-50 victory Friday at home. Photo credit: Clara Jaques

Grain Valley junior Aaron Barr unleashes a three from the left wing as he chipped in with 12 points for the Eagles. Photo credit: Clara Jaques

Grain Valley sophomore Samuel Pendergrass tries to corral the pass from a teammate. Photo credit: Clara Jaques