ARCANUM – Arcanum used a balanced offensive game and played solid defense to put together a winning effort to defeat Twin Valley South 64-48 in a Western Ohio Athletic Conference game.
The Trojans despite going into the game down a starter and then losing another starter part way through the game played consistent basketball for 32 minutes.
“I think for these guys it goes back two weeks ago on a long bus ride home where we didn’t play well. We focused on having a good week of practice, then hosted date Christian who beat us at our game and was able to push the ball and we didn’t play transition defense very well,” Arcanum coach Kevin Brackman stated.
“We tried to go back and put an emphasis on the way we played against them and the way we played against Greenville, and what separated that team from where we are now and put a premium on those things this week in practice,” Brackman added.
To add to the matter Arcanum would be without senior starter Brady Lock who was sick and not in school Thursday or Friday and then then halfway the game senior Rylan Murray got popped in the face, so the Trojans were going to need players step up.
In the opening frame it was junior guard Landon Flatter who got it rolling scoring all seven of Arcanum’s points to start the game.
Twin Valley South answered with a couple of buckets at the rim from junior Griffin Roell to trail 7-4.
But the Trojans pushed the lead out to 15-7 and then 19-11 to end the first quarter.
Both teams generated good offense in the in the 2nd quarter scoring 17 points each with Arcanum holding a lead at the break 36-28.
Arcanum had good balance with Regan Christ scoring 7 points, Nathan Koller and Landon Flatter each with 4 points and Cole Kessler 2 in the 2nd quarter.
Twin Valley South Chandler Ulrich knocked down consecutive triples for 6 points, Jandron Ankrom 4, Jace Thuma 3, Trent Ray and Seth Vorhis each with 2 points.
Landon Flatter and Regan Christ both scored 11 points each in the first half for Arcanum which pleased coach Brackman.
“For Regan and Landon to carry the load for was huge and Nathan Koller coming off the bench was big too,” Brackman said.
Koller hit a triple in the first quarter and had two fielders in the second quarter for 7 first half points.
“He is a guy (Koller) that has not gotten a lot of minutes but a guy we trust, and he stepped up huge matching our team’s intensity in a situation he hasn’t been in before,” praised Brackman.
Twin Valley South was able to cut the lead down 6 points a couple of times in the 3rd but never able to get consecutive stops to make a run.
Arcanum scored 13 points in the 3rd quarter while holding the Panthers to 11 for a 49-39 lead heading into the final stanza.
Arcanum’s Koller had 5 points, Rylan Murray 4, Flatter and Luke Henninger each had 2 points in the 3rd.
For South Ankrom had 5 points, with Conner Mowell, Ulrich and Thuma each dropping 2 in the third quarter.
In the final frame Arcanum was able to use the 10-point lead to their advantage showing patience on offense and forcing South to gamble and give up fouls where the Trojans would go 9-for-14 in the period on their way to the 64-48 win.
For Arcanum it was a good win knowing they have kids who can step up.
“We’re trying to keep guys together getting guys to click and tonight we had a number of good contributions,” Brackman noted.
“Caleb Burke played a great game really stepped up big in a role where we knew #24 (Griffin Roell) was going to be an issue for us. We were emphasizing that we need to wall him up and stay in front, he loves the spin move and he did a nice job on him,” Brackman expressed.
“Rylan Murray is a kid that doesn’t get a lot of credit, he doesn’t show up in our score book all that often. But he hardly ever comes off the floor and gives maximum effort,” Brackman complimented.
“Matthew McCans was able to hit some key buckets in the stretch and does some of the things that you want as a coach as well,” Brackman continued.
“I’d also like to give credit to Cole Kessler who played three quarters of JV, came in and had two big layups in transition, he plays at a high speed, and it’s nice he can come in and give us a little pop and fit right in,” Brackman added.
“All of our guys are very coachable and work hard to put our plan to work.”
“I told the guys that’s our system. That’s the culture. We’re trying to create a system where guys can come in and compete and not miss a beat. I’m just really proud of all our guys,” Brackman concluded.
Arcanum placed four players in double figure with Landon Flatter leading with 17, Regan Christ 14, Nathan Koller 14 and Matthew McCans 10. Rylan Murray and Cole Kessler each had 4 and Braylen Etherington 2 points.
The Trojans improve to 8-8 overall and 4-3 in the WOAC and they will host Milton Union tonight.
Twin Valley South was led by Jandron Ankrom with 14, Chase Ulrich 13, Jace Thuma 11, Griffin Roell 4, Conner Mowell, Seth Vorhis and Trent Ray 2 each.
South falls to 3-10 overall and 2-5 in WOAC. They will host Madison tonight.
