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Varsity Boys Basketball News

Stratford Varsity Basketball Bi-District Champs 

By Shelley Hatcher 03/01/2022, 10:00am CST

The varsity basketball season came to an end on Friday night in the 2nd round of the playoffs. The boys had a HUGE win against Westbury High School on Tuesday night which earned the Spartans a first-round playoff win for the first time since 2015 and the title Bi-District Champs. Unfortunately, the Spartans came up against a very talented Mayde Creek team on Friday night. Though the boys played their hearts out and truly left everything on the court, a win was not in the cards and the season ended with a heartbreaking loss to Mayde Creek.

What a season it was though! Undefeated at home for the season, District Champs, Bi-District Champs and a spot in the 2nd round of the playoffs. This was a really tight-knit group of boys and it showed every time they stepped on the court. Thank you to the student and fan support through out the year. So many exciting plays made so much more special by the fans! The Shot by Keshaun Bell at mid court for the Strake Jesuit win and the absolute insanity of the crowd that evening. Everett Bates hearing the roar of the crowd as he hit a 3 point shot on a perfectly executed play to send the boys into OT and ultimately a win over Cy Creek. The buzzer beater put back by Luke Hatcher on Senior Day to ultimately ensure a share of district and the love he received from the fans after. Let’s not forget the reaction from the crowd when Keanu Dawes or Triston Williams would put down a monster dunk. And finally, the love shown for all the seniors in their last season of playing Stratford basketball…Everett Bates, Keshaun Bell, Caden Francis, Luke Hatcher, Hudson Putnik, and Tyler Silas.

Coach Nixon is building quite the Spartan Basketball culture and it is going to be fun to watch this program in years to come!

Go Spartans!

The Spartans headed into the last game of the season tied for first and needing a win in order to maintain the tie as well as the 1st seed in district for playoffs.  The Bobcats had nothing to lose having secured the 4th seed in playoffs regardless of a win or loss and came out looking for an upset.

The Spartans came out strong and jumped to a 10-point lead with just under 3 minutes left in the 1st quarter and maintained the lead until the Bobcats hit a 3-point shot with just under 30 seconds left in the quarter.  The quarter ended with the Spartans up 18-11.

The Spartans came out in the 2nd quarter with the foot on the gas and pulled to a 13-point lead with about 4 minutes left in the quarter.  The Bobcats were able to close the gap and the Spartans were up 8 at half, 29-21.

The Spartans started off the 3rd well and with 4:45 left in the quarter the lead was 9.  However, the Bobcats started hitting their stride a bit and got hot from behind the line and with about 1:30 left in the quarter the lead had dwindled to just one.  The Spartans were up 3 and had the ball with about 5 seconds left in the quarter, however, a steal by the Bobcats and a layup as time expired put the score back within one, 41-40, headed into the 4th quarter.

The Bobcats continued to hit behind the line and with 6:15 left the game was tied at 43.  However, as the Spartans have continued to prove throughout the season, the word quit is not in their vocabulary.  A couple of good defensive stops along with good ball movement on the other end and some nice plays at the rim and the Spartans were back up by 6 with around 5:00 left.  And with just over two minutes left the Spartans had increased the lead to 10 and at that point it felt as the Spartan had it under control. The Spartans continued to hold the Bobcats and ultimately won by seven to secure the title of District Champs for the first time since 2015 and a 1st place seed for the playoffs.

Game stats:

  • Keanu Dawes – 19 pts, 8 rebs, 2 asts, 1 stl
  • Luke Hatcher – 17 pts, 9 rebs, 3 asts
  • Cameron Cronin – 11 pts, 2 asts, 2 stls, 1 blk
  • Everett Bates – 4 pts, 5 rebs, 3 asts, 2 stls
  • Keshaun Bell – 4 pts, 2 rebs, 1 asts, 3 stls
  • Triston Williams – 3 pts, 1 reb, 1 ast
  • Caden Francis – 2 rebs

The Spartans are looking to make a run in the playoffs but it all starts with the first game.  Come support the Spartans on Tuesday, February 22nd at 7:30 at Don Coleman Coliseum.

Varsity Boys Basketball Week of February 14th Update

By Shelley Hatcher 02/15/2022, 4:15pm CST

Varsity – Week of 2/7/22

2/9 - SHS v. Northbrook – 80-33 (W)

The Spartans started the week in a three-way tie for 1st in district at 9-2.  The week started on the road at Northbrook.  It was a good opportunity to get everyone in on the action and the Spartans took the win, 80-33.

Game stats:

  • Keanu Dawes – 20 pts, 6 rebs, 4 asts
  • Triston Williams – 11 pts, 2 rebs
  • Hawkins Polley – 9 pts, 4 rebs
  • Cameron Cronin – 7 pts, 3 rebs, 2 asts, 4 stls
  • Tyler Silas – 6 pts, 5 rebs, 2 asts
  • Hudson Putnik – 6 pts, 1 reb
  • Keshaun Bell – 6 pts, 2 rebs, 1 ast
  • Luke Hatcher – 5 pts, 3 asts, 2 stls
  • Everett Bates – 3 pts, 1 reb, 2 asts, 2 stls
  • Paul Skoutelakis – 3 pts, 3 rebs, 1 ast
  • Caden Francis – 2 pts, 2 rebs, 5 asts
  • Wes Wohlfahrt – 2 pts, 4 rebs, 1 stl

 

2/12 – SHS v. Cy Ridge – 46-44 (W)

The Spartans were playing in their last home game of the season on Saturday and in addition it was Senior Day at the gym.  The Spartans celebrated their six seniors who have given so much to this program over the last 4 years.  The seniors being celebrated were Everett Bates, Keshaun Bell, Caden Francis, Luke Hatcher and Tyler Silas.  Once the celebration was over it was time to get to work.  As with every home game this season, the fans showed up and in true spartan fashion they got their money’s worth!

The boys were playing the Cy Ridge Rams who were 1 of the 3 teams sitting in first in district.  The winner of this game would be at the top with Cy Creek who had won on Friday. 

The Spartans took an early lead on nice three-point shooting by Everett Bates and Cameron Cronin along with a huge dunk by Triston Williams.  After the first quarter it was 16-8.  The Spartans started strong in the 2nd quarter and pulled to a 12-point lead with just 5 minutes left in the half.  The Rams were not going down without a fight and were able to close the gap.  However, on the strong play of Keshaun Bell, who had 10 of his leading 14 points in the first half and 8 of those coming in the 2nd quarter, the Spartans went into half time up 26-18. 

The second half started strong for the Spartans and with 5:40 left in the quarter, the boys had pulled back to a 12-point lead, 32-20.  However, the Rams went on an 11-1 and the quarter ended with the Rams within 2 points at 33-31.

Neither team could get anything going offensively in the 4th quarter and with about a minute to go in the game the Rams were up 38-35.  The Rams were bringing the ball back up the court after a missed three on our end and the point guard went to pass to the guard in the corner and Cameron Cronin in a HUGE defensively play, stole the ball, dribbled up the court and passed to Luke Hatcher who made the and one layup.  Hatcher made the free throw and tied the game at 38 with 45 seconds left in the game.  The Rams held the ball for the last shot and were unable to convert sending the game into OT. 

The Spartans had 4 minutes to finish this game off and remain in 1st place in the district.  A few layups by both teams and one made FT by the Spartans and the Rams were up 42-41 with 1:24 left in OT.  The Rams had the ball and had the Spartan defense spread out with their big managing to get open as the guard drove the lane he quickly spotted their post and passed it off.  In what appeared was going to be an easy basket, Williams came out of nowhere to cleanly block him and not only save the basket but probably the game.  Bates got the rebound dribbled it up and passed to Hatcher who was met in the lane by one of the Rams players.  Hatcher made the lay up and got the blocking foul for the and one.  After the made free throw the Spartans were up 44-42 with 1:18 left in the game.

The Rams were able to pull off a tough, well defending shot in the paid with 35 seconds left in the game brining the game to 44 all.  The Spartans brought the ball up and Coach Nixon, not liking what he was seeing, called a timeout with 18 seconds left.  The boys inbounded and after passing the ball around and the clock winding down, they got the ball into Bates hands who shot a long three.  The shot was short but Bell was able to tip the ball over to Hatcher who was running in from the other side.  Hatcher in one motion caught and then floated the ball up and after a few bounces around the rim and as the buzzer sounded the ball fell through the net giving the Spartans the OT WIN and share of the top spot in district. 

This is the 3rd huge buzzer beater of the season for the Spartans and as pointed out by Coach Nixon on Senior day, all three have been made by seniors!

Game stats:

  • K. Bell – 14 pts, 3 rebs, 2 stls
  • L. Hatcher – 12 pts, 7 rebs, 1 ast, 1 stl
  • T. Williams – 7 pts, 1 reb, 3 asts, 2 stls, 2 blks
  • E. Bates – 6 pts, 2 rebs, 2 asts, 1 stl
  • C. Cronin – 5 pts, 1 ast, 2 stls,
  • K. Dawes – 2 pts, 12 rebs, 2 asts, 4 stls, 1 blk

The Spartans finish out the regular season at Cy Fair on Wednesday.  With a win, the Spartans will clench the #1 seed in our district for playoffs.  Playoffs to start shortly thereafter and we are looking for a strong showing this year!

Lets go Spartans!!