Grain Valley News
  • Home
  • About
    • Submit Your News
    • Contact
  • News
    • Voter Resources
    • Online Puzzles
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • Kindness Awards
    • 2023 Garage Sale Directory
    • Parade
  • Job Board
  • Best of Grain Valley
  • Support
    • Advertise
    • Become A Sustaining Member
  • Business Directory Submission Form
  • Home
  • About
    • Submit Your News
    • Contact
  • News
    • Voter Resources
    • Online Puzzles
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • Kindness Awards
    • 2023 Garage Sale Directory
    • Parade
  • Job Board
  • Best of Grain Valley
  • Support
    • Advertise
    • Become A Sustaining Member
  • Business Directory Submission Form








​news

Eagles Topple Owls In Tournament Opener

1/30/2020

 
​by John Unrein
​     A track meet broke out for the Grain Valley Eagles Boys Basketball team during their 66-24 win over Marshall on Tuesday, January 28th. Stripes easily could’ve been marked on the court prior to the game for fast break lanes. Dominance on the defensive boards by the Eagles led to quick outlet passes that spurred the transition game into full gear.
     Eagles Head Basketball Coach Andy Herbert encouraged his team before the game to get their swagger back when it came to getting up and down the court.
     “We had been playing sluggish lately. Getting the ball up and down the court fast was a priority. Josh (Kilpatrick) was a big part of that, not only running the floor, but using his vision to get the ball out to teammates ahead of him in transition,” Herbert said.
     “It’s more fun to play the game at this speed. That’s how this team wants to play basketball. Sometimes you lose yourself in the monotony of the season and you must find yourself and the reasons why you play the game. I think you saw that tonight from us.”
     Josh Kilpatrick was the leading scorer for the Eagles high octane offense. The senior scored 22 points to go along with his 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
     Kilpatrick reflected on his team’s success after the game.
     “We moved the ball better tonight. Thursday’s game was a tough one and that took us by surprise. Coach (Herbert) directed us tonight to take each game one at a time, stay together, and be willing to make the extra pass. Those directions paid off for us tonight along with getting to play with great teammates,” Kirkpatrick said.
     A strong supporting cast in the Eagles win included Senior Guards Caden Matlon and Tristin Whitton. Matlon would score 13 points, and pull down 4 rebounds, to go with his 3 assists and 1 block. Whitton was perfect on the night behind the three point arc, going three for three. A made free throw as well would lead to Whitton’s 10 total points.
     None of Whitton’s shots were as exciting though as his buzzer beater at the end of the first half from just inside the mid court line. The shot was timed perfectly as Whitton leapt off his left foot to complete the running jump shot.
     Whitton explained what made up his success from behind the arc during the game.
     “When I got the ball at the end of the first half, there was only three seconds left. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to get all the way down court. I pulled up, and when I let it go, it felt kinda good and then it went through,” Whitton said.
     “My teammates delivered good passes to me in the shooting pocket tonight that led to open looks at the basket for me. The best thing about tonight’s win was (Gavin) Yao getting the bucket at the end.”
     Grain Valley’s 60-16 lead at the end of the third quarter permitted Herbert to clear his bench. Senior Gavin Yao was among the group that got playing time during the fourth quarter. Yao is a foreign exchange student from China who learned English at the encouragement of his parents during his junior year prior to coming to the United States. It paid off as Yao received a near perfect score on the SAT this year.
     His intelligence is apparent on the court as well. Yao received a pass with 1:40 left in the final quarter. A pivot to both the left and right looking for an open teammate to hit with a pass did not develop. Yao then decided to take matters into his own hands by driving to the basket to score a layup.
     The student section became raucous with chanting jubilantly for Yao. Players on the bench for Grain Valley could also not hold back their happiness for what they witnessed.
     Yao spoke about his love for basketball and scoring his first varsity basket.
     “I started playing basketball in middle school. Boys would play against different classes and the competition along with the girls cheering for us got me hooked. I wanted to get on the court and draw praise,” Yao said.
     “Bouncing the ball and shooting made me fall in love with basketball. Tonight, was the first point I scored in a varsity game. The inside was hollow because they closed out on us and I drove past them for the basket. That was so amazing.”
     Herbert was happy for Yao and the rest of his team that came off the bench late to help cement the win.
     “Gavin (Yao) got the ovation he did because he’s one of the friendliest kids you will ever meet. He’s a tremendously kind and genuine individual. He wants his teammates to succeed and keeps everything light with the things that we take for granted,” Herbert said.
     “His exuberance is apparent in practices as well as games. He grabbed me around the shoulders recently and said we are amazing in his unique accent. As a coach you sometimes start thinking about the next game if the outcome is decided and Gavin reminds you to enjoy the moment.”
 
 
Picture
Senior Gavin Yao scored his first varsity basket in the fourth quarter against Marshall.    
Photo credit: John Overstreet
Picture
Senior Caden Matlon finishes the fast break.
Photo credit: John Overstreet
 

Comments are closed.

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Burton Kelso
    Business
    Cathy Allie
    Celebrations & Transitions
    Census
    City Of Grain Valley
    Columnists
    Community Profile
    Covid19
    Covid-19
    Economic-development
    Education
    Elections
    Financial-health
    Fitness
    Food Inspections
    Good News
    Good-news
    Grain-valley-assistance-council
    Grain Valley Fair
    Grain Valley Historical Society
    Grain-valley-partnership
    Grain Valley Schools
    Health And Fitness
    Health-and-fitness
    Home And Garden
    Jackson County
    Kindness Awards
    Ld
    Letters
    Local News
    Looking Back
    Lorne-meinershagen
    Missouri House Of Representatives
    Missouri Senate
    Musings From The Middle
    Neighborhood View
    On-the-job
    Pets
    Police Blotter
    Quick-news
    Rdn
    Recreation
    Sally-whitaker
    Seniors
    Senior-send-off
    Sports
    State Of Missouri
    Technology
    Tracey-shaffer
    Transportation
    University Of Missouri Extension
    Waynes-world

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018

Grain Valley News

Grain Valley News is a free community news source published weekly online. 
(c) 2023 Grain Valley News

Contact Us

PO Box 2972
​Grain Valley MO 64029

Privacy Policy
Picture