Web posted
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Patient attack propels Ark City boys
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Photo by Tyler Gaskill
Winfield Courier
click image to enlarge
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By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor
sports@arkcity.net
WINFIELD -- As the old adage goes, "patience is a virtue."
Patience, especially on the offensive end, is something Arkansas City coach Ben Proctor has hardly seen from his team all season.
It took them a while to consistently show it, but it made a big difference Tuesday night.
Jordan Fields recorded a game-high 14 points and Ryan Rohrs and Kestian Harris each added 11, as Ark City avenged last season's playoff loss to Winfield with a 54-37 win over the Vikings.
For most of the game, Ark City took its time passing the ball around Winfield's zone defense. The Bulldogs were willing to make an extra pass to set up quality shots.
"I don't think we took many bad shots tonight," Proctor said.
After holding a 21-18 halftime lead, the Bulldogs started to be rewarded for their patience midway through the third quarter.
Harris recorded back-to-back jumpers to give Ark City its first double-digit lead of the game, 29-18, with 3:18 remaining in the third. He recorded seven points in the turnover-filled quarter.
"He's a guy that can score," Proctor said of Harris. "He does a lot of good things on the floor. We started him tonight because of it...He gave us a spark there for a little bit."
Fields hit a three-pointer just before the buzzer sounded for a 34-21 Ark City lead after three. Even more impressive was the Bulldogs' defensive performance in the third quarter, in which they outscored Winfield 13-3.
Ark City (7-6, 2-3 AVCTL Division II) held Winfield scoreless for a span of 8 minutes, 34 seconds from late in the first half to late in the third quarter. Jacob Love broke the Vikings' drought, connecting on a three-pointer from the left corner with 1:23 left in the third.
"I thought the whole second half, the kids played good," Proctor said. "When we play hard, I think we're a pretty good basketball team."
Several careless turnovers by Ark City early in the fourth quarter gave Winfield a glimpse of hope. But Ark City's offense got back on track.
Rohrs iced the game with his third three-pointer. Fields then capped off the game with a two-handed, breakaway dunk for a 19-point lead with just under two minutes left. Fields was subsequently issued a technical foul for hanging on the rim, but Ark City was well on its way to recording its seventh win on the season.
"In the second half, I thought we hit the shots that we missed in the first half," Proctor said. "I thought that was the biggest difference."
The Bulldogs overcame 19 turnovers in the win, while Winfield had 18.
Ark City stormed out of the gates for a quick 5-0 lead. But Daelor Olson and the Vikings battled back. Neither team led by more five points in a first half that featured five lead changes.
Olson and Love led the Vikings with eight points apiece. Ceth Bannister added six.
Ark City 10 11 13 20 -- 54
Winfield 9 9 3 16 -- 37
Ark City -- Fields 14, Rohrs 11, Harris 11, Miller 7, Freeman 6, Rock 2, Irvin 2, Metzinger 1.
Winfield -- Love 8, Olson 8, Bannister 6, Watson 5, Meyer 4, Moore 2, Harper 2, McDade 2.
Above: Arkansas City senior Kestian Harris, top right, shoots a jumper over the reach of Winfield defender Reece Hoover on Tuesday night. Harris scored 11 points in the Bulldogs' 54-37 win over the Vikings.
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