CONWAY -- Cash Krueger was at the center of Subiaco Academy's success last season, even when the 6-5 guard wasn't having the best of nights.
Krueger and the Trojans struggled early in the season, but the team came on strong in the final weeks to advance to the Class 4A state championship game.
All-Star Week
WHERE UCA (Conway)
TICKETS $6
TUESDAY’S GAMES
BASEBALL East 8-1, West 4-9
SOFTBALL East 6-6, West 2-0
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
GIRLS SOCCER West 2, East 0
VOLLEYBALL East 4, West 1
BOYS SOCCER West 2, East 1
TODAY’S GAMES
GIRLS BASKETBALL Farris Center, 6 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL Farris Center, 8 p.m.
FRIDAY’S GAME
FOOTBALL Estes Stadium, 7 p.m.
"Saying we had a mediorce start would be a generous term," said Krueger, whose team lost four of its first five games. "It was probably the worst start I've ever had. ... But after Christmas, something must have clicked because we started winning."
Starting with the Class 4A North Region tournament, the Trojans (22-10) won five consecutive games before falling to Monticello in the title game.
Krueger will play his final high school game tonight as a member of the West team at the Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star boys basketball game at the Farris Center on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas.
"I didn't expect this to happen, but it's great to be selected," said Krueger, who averaged 17 points per game his senior season. "It's been a lot of fun so far. Win or lose, I'm just happy to be here."
Subiaco Academy Coach Tim Tencleve said Krueger's scoring average was down from his two previous seasons with the Trojans, but that his overall play made up for the lack of offense.
"He didn't shoot the ball as well as he had his previous two years," Tencleve said. "His scoring average was lower, but the team had a lot better balance.
"What Cash was every night was a very good defensive player. He led us in rebounds. His assists were way up from past years. Everything was up but the scoring average. He was still the cornerstone of everything we did."
"My first three years of high school ball, I had been more of post player," Krueger said. "I'd pop out and set a screen, but this year I was more of a guard and I'd handle the ball more."
Krueger will continue his basketball career at Lyon College, a program that almost passed on him.
"Early in the year they came to watch him and then just quit," Tencleve said. "I texted them sometime in mid-January and said, 'You might want to come watch him again.'
"They showed up again and watched him maybe seven times the rest of the year. They really liked him. They think he'll be a real key to their future."
The West will try to end a five-game losing streak to the East. The East leads the series 40-29 and has won 12 of the past 14 games.
Sports on 06/25/2015