Chiefs work to declaw the Panthers while a man short
Playing league-leading Prairie Farm is never fun for the Cornell boys basketball program and this time on Cornell’s court Feb. 7, was especially no picnic.
“We lost a starter halfway through the second half, after he took a nasty elbow to the head, that caused a gash that required three staples to suture in the ER after the game,” said coach Steve Parker. “It was heartwarming to have Avery Turany back on the floor, with limited minutes late in the game, as he nears full recovery from his ACL injury at the start of the football season.”
Despite the blow to the Chiefs’ lineup late in the game, they matched the Panthers in rebounding, along with notching 15 assists and forcing 15 turnovers, shooting 70 percent from the free throw line.
“We also swung the ball better on offense,” said Parker. “Their stifling 1-3-1 zone was the difference in the game, that forced 31 turnovers.”
Unable to stop Prairie Farm, Cornell watched the match go to the visitors, 78-55, which brings the Chiefs to 4-16 overall on the season and 1-12 in the East Lakeland Conference.
Sophomore Torren Parker had the hot hand of the night, recording 17 points and 6 rebounds, while senior Dylan Bowe scored 15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. Sophomore Parker Modl followed that up with 10 points, 4 rebounds, an assist and a steal, with junior Jayden Joas-Shaw adding 6 points, a rebound and a steal.
Junior Bentley Spangler came up with 3 points on the night, along with 3 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal. Senior Blake Anders came next, with 2 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, a block and 2 steals, and sophomore Hunter Anders had 2 points, 3 rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal.
Also getting in the scorebooks for Cornell, was junior Carter Harycki, with 2 rebounds, as well as the senior Turany, with an assist, and freshman Carson Stipek, who also chipped in with an assist.
“On the bright side, our team is showing improvement, despite continuously competing with depleted numbers,” said S. Parker.
