Fast start carries Ponca past Cedar boys
WAYNE — The Trojans basketball season ended last Tuesday with a 65-53 loss to Ponca in the Subdistrict Semifinals.
The Cedar offense struggled early, scoring just six points in the opening quarter, while Ponca scored 18 to grab an early 12-point lead.
“In the first quarter we scored six points, but if you go back and watch it I think we missed a lot of bunnies, I think we were changing out shots a lot because maybe [Carter] Kingsbury was under there and he can block shots, and they always play good defense,” said Cedar head coach Matt Steffen.
Cedar responded in the second quarter, with Myles Thoene and Jacob Keiser each scoring ve points and Matthew Becker contributing four.
The Trojans scored 14 points while holding Ponca to 13 in the second quarter, sending it into the half with the Indians lead- ing 31-20.
Despite Cedar outscoring Ponca in the second quarter, Kingsbury seemed to make every shot he took in the first half, making seven baskets while going 1-4 at the free throw line to score 17 first-half points.
“When you can’t keep the ball out of Kingsbury’s hands it is tough to stop them,” said Steffen.
Cedar again outscored Ponca by one point in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 10 points, but foul trouble started to affect the Cedar rotation.
Brady Steffen had four fouls, and Keiser, Josh Pinkelman, and Myles Thoene each had three.
Thoene fouled out in the fourth quarter on a blocking call, and he picked up a technical foul which Ponca capitalized on by sending Kingsbury to the line.
Kingsbury went 6-8 from the line in the fourth quarter, and he finished with a game-high 28 points.
Meanwhile, in the fourth quarter, Becker picked up four fouls, as his aggressiveness on both sides of the ball exemplified his attempt to bring the Trojans back into the game in the final quarter.
Becker and Pinkelman were the lone seniors on the Cedar team this year, and both let their emotions show after the loss to rival Ponca ended the season on a loss.
them, we appreciate what they have given. I told Matthew that he couldn’t have done any more and not just in this game but he has been in the gym, he shows up for everything, and he couldn’t have worked any harder than he did so he shouldn’t hang his head about it.”
With the loss, Cedar finished with a record of 16-6.
Ponca 18 13 14 20—65
Cedar Catholic 6 14 15 18 — 53
SCORING Cedar - Myles Thoene, 14; Matthew Becker, 11; Jacob Keiser, 10; Brady Steffen, 6; Tate Thoene, 5; Charlie Schroeder, 4; Josh Pinkelman, 3. Ponca - Carter Kingsbury, 28; Brandon Kneifl, 11; Evan Anderson, 9; Gage McGill, 8; Jayde Reid, 6; Paul Masin, 3.
REBOUNDS Cedar - Jacob Keiser, 7; Matthew Becker, 6; Brady Steffen, 5; Tate Thoene, 4; Charlie Schroeder, 3; Myles Thoene, 3; Josh Pinkelman, 1.
ASSISTS Cedar - Charlie Schroeder, 3; Jacob Keiser, 3.
STEALS Cedar - Myles Thoene, 2; Brady Steffen, 2; Jacob Keiser, 1; Matthew Becker, 1; Tate Thoene, 1; Josh Pinkelman, 1.
BLOCKS Cedar - Myles Thoene, 1.
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