CABOT — Cabot didn’t have a good option Tuesday night against Van Buren.
Van Buren center Hooper Vint scored 13 points in the paint, but it was the Pointers’ kickout passes to the perimeter that doomed the Panthers.
Logan Patterson made six three-pointers and finished with a game-high 20 points and Tyler Spoon added 3 three-pointers and 10 points as Van Buren clinched the outright 7A/6A Central title with a 66-44 victory.
“When we’re shooting the ball like that it really makes it tough for whoever we’replaying,” Van Buren Coach Randy Loyd said. “If they double up on Hooper down low, then he’ll find the open man. He’s such an unselfish player.”
Vint had nine rebounds and eight assists to go along with his 13 points for Van Buren (18-7, 12-1).
While Van Buren’s offense clicked, its defense made sure Cabot didn’t mount any kind of challenge. Cabot didn’t have a starter make a field goal until the 6:22 mark of the third quarter, and by then it trailed 34-15. Vint altered nearly everyshot inside while the 6-4 Drew White mirrored Kai Davis on the outside and held Cabot’s leading scorer to five points.
“We’ve been telling folks that, yeah, we have some offense, but it’s the defense everyone needs to talk about,” Loyd said. “You’re doing something when you only allow 43 points a game in this conference, and that’s right at our average right now.” VAN BUREN (66) Patterson 7 0-1 20, Goodwin 4 1-3 9, Spoon 3 1-2 10, White 1 4-4 6, Vint 6 1-3 13, Pearson 0 1-2 1, Moreland 0 1-2 1, Ware 1 0-0 2, Schoolcraft 2 0-0 4. Totals 24. 9-17.
CABOT (44) Davis 1 2-4 5, Vaught 4 1-2 11, Thielemier 4 0-0 10, Jones 2 4-6 8, Spry 1 2-2 4, Brunett 2 0-0 6. Totals 14 9-14 44.
Van Buren ..................... 15 14 15 19 - 66 Cabot ...........................4 11 10 19 - 44Three-pointers - Van Buren 9 (Patterson 6, Spoon 3). Cabot 7 (Vaught 2, Brunett 2, Thielemier 2, Davis). Fouls - Van Buren 15, Cabot 19. Fouled out - Jones. Technical fouls: White GIRLS CABOT 68, VAN BUREN 43
Kaki Thomas made four three-pointers to lead Cabot (17-10, 8-5 7A/6ACentral) past Van Buren (10-16, 3-9).
Thomas and Melissa Wolff led the Lady Panthers with 16 points each.
Keri Arnold made 3 three-pointers and scored 14 points for Van Buren.
VAN BUREN (43) Becker 4 1-2 9, Arnold 4 3-3 14, Campbell 2 2-4 6, Blake 1 2-4 4, Brown 1 4-4 7, Alexander 1 0-0 3. Totals 13 12-17 43.
CABOT (68) Thomas 6 0-0 16, Odom 2 1-1 6, Boyett 4 4-5 13, Wolff 6 2-4 16, Russell 0 2-2 2, Taylor 3 4-5 10, Wacker 1 3-4 5. Totals 22 16-21 68.
Van Buren ......................9 10 7 17 - 43 Cabot .......................... 17 13 18 20 - 68 Three-pointers - Van Buren 4 (Arnold 3, Alexader). Cabot 8 (Thomas 4, Wolff 2, Boyett, Odom). Fouls - Van Buren 16, Cabot 16. Fouled out - Blake. Technical fouls: None
Sports, Pages 19 on 02/23/2011