Staff writer
The Warriors defeated Elyria Christian School 55-44 Friday at Peabody after controlling the boards most of the game.
“It was a good team game we played well,” coach Caleb Good said. “We worked the offense and defense, but our boxing out was incredibly good. Everyone stayed right with their guys.”
Though it wasn’t a “runaway victory,” Good said the Warriors had control of the game from the very beginning.
Scoring 13 points in the first quarter and 16 in the second, Peabody-Burns led 29-13 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Warriors scored 11 points, allowing Elyria 8 points, but an Elyria player made a couple 3-pointers, which caused them to outscore the Warriors 23-15 in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors had a substantial enough lead that Elyria’s small comeback did not ever really threaten their lead.
Conversely, the Warriors were 0-7 from 3-point land. Good said the win was result of the team “doing a lot of damage in the paint and really strong rebounding.”
The Warriors also came out ahead with about 14 assists and 12 turnovers.
Kornelius Skotaam led the Warriors in scoring with 16 points. Braxton Kyle followed with 13 points, and Austin Reynolds made 10 points.
Little River
The Warriors came back from a 19-8 first quarter deficit only to out-score Little River in the fourth quarter by 9 points and finally beat them 59-54 on Tuesday night in Peabody.
“Man, it was fun tonight, fun game, great atmosphere, that’s what it’s all about,” Good said. “It was a big win. We erased a double digit deficit and we had great team defense.”
Peabody-Burns gave up some turnovers and a few transition buckets in the first quarter put them down 19-8.
Good said the largest deficit was about 13 points.
However, the Warriors turned it around in the second quarter, out-scoring Little River by 3 points, but still trailing 31-23 at half time.
Peabody-Burns continued their comeback after the half with baskets from several team members, a couple free throws from Kyle, and a 3-pointer from Vince Newman.
Good said the Warriors’ defense played a key role in their win.
“Little River had a big 6-5 post player that we shut down in the second quarter,” he said. “I think we held him to 11 points all game and he only had 4 points in the second half.”
Kyle, Newman, and Skotaam all made 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
In a momentum changer, Kyle busted out two back-to-back 3 pointers to tie the game and cause Little River to take a time out.
Newman topped out Warrior scoring with 20 points. Kyle followed with 11 points, and Skotaam also with 11 points.
PBHS had 13 assists as a team.
The Warriors head to Moundridge to tangle with the Wildcats on Friday.