The Adrian Blackhawks varsity boys team ended its season in the semifinal round of district play. Adrian played well against the Lockwood Tigers but fell short by the score of 65-76.
Adrian got out of the gates hot with senior Trenton Tallman hitting five 3-pointers in the first quarter of play. Despite Tallman's hot shooting Lockwood had shooters that just could not miss. Everything they threw up went in.
Adrian got out of the gates hot with senior Trenton Tallman hitting five 3-pointers in the first quarter of play. Despite Tallman's hot shooting Lockwood had shooters that just could not miss. Everything they threw up went in.
Lockwood stretched the lead to 16 points midway through the third quarter but Adrian was not going down without a fight. The Blackhawks chipped away at the lead then consecutive three point shots by Gage Steen and Trenton Tallman brought the lead down to six points with momentum clearly in Adrian's favor. But, with time running out Lockwood regained composure, added a few buckets then extended the lead on foul shots to ice the game.
This year's Blackhawks boys team led by seniors Gage Steen, Hunter Harris, Trenton Tallman and Adam Cochran coupled with up and coming players Logan Harris and Dylan Novovesky and Connor Pruitt and freshman phenom (always wanted to say that) Hunter Steen gelled as the season went along. There were peaks and valleys as the season unfolded but any person who attended all the games could see them improving as a team with each passing game.
In years past Gage Steen felt the pressure to make plays in order to give his team a chance to win. This year he came into the season as the face of the Blackhawks. Most teams would come into the game with a plan to stop #24 from scoring. This year, however, it wasn't just Gage they had to contend with. They had a hot shooting three point artist in Trenton Tallman. Leave him uncovered and he'd drain six three pointers on the night. Assign a guy to guard him and teams left lanes open for Logan Harris to slice and dice his way to the bucket for 20+ points on the night. If teams tried a zone defense on the Blackhawks then Hunter Harris would bang down low. Mix in a freshman with ice running through his veins in Hunter Steen and you had a team that was a force to be reckoned with. Hunter Steen could drive to the basket like his brother or Logan Harris and he could shoot a three like it was a free throw.
This year's Blackhawks boys team led by seniors Gage Steen, Hunter Harris, Trenton Tallman and Adam Cochran coupled with up and coming players Logan Harris and Dylan Novovesky and Connor Pruitt and freshman phenom (always wanted to say that) Hunter Steen gelled as the season went along. There were peaks and valleys as the season unfolded but any person who attended all the games could see them improving as a team with each passing game.
In years past Gage Steen felt the pressure to make plays in order to give his team a chance to win. This year he came into the season as the face of the Blackhawks. Most teams would come into the game with a plan to stop #24 from scoring. This year, however, it wasn't just Gage they had to contend with. They had a hot shooting three point artist in Trenton Tallman. Leave him uncovered and he'd drain six three pointers on the night. Assign a guy to guard him and teams left lanes open for Logan Harris to slice and dice his way to the bucket for 20+ points on the night. If teams tried a zone defense on the Blackhawks then Hunter Harris would bang down low. Mix in a freshman with ice running through his veins in Hunter Steen and you had a team that was a force to be reckoned with. Hunter Steen could drive to the basket like his brother or Logan Harris and he could shoot a three like it was a free throw.
Not to go unmentioned is the emergence of Dylan Novovesky and Connor Pruitt. In the Osceola courtwarming game Hunter Steen went down with a leg injury. Thrust into action was Dylan and Connor. Each one played admirably and showed what a value they were off the bench. Novovesky saw extensive playing as the season progressed. He could come in and give Hunter Harris a break down low or any of the guys on the perimeter. His versatility was an added bonus for a team that became very good at passing the ball around and exploiting what the other teams were giving them.
Sure, the season ended before the fans would have liked but the players have much to be proud of and should look back on the season with a smile on their face. I know the fans that have followed them all year will.
Sure, the season ended before the fans would have liked but the players have much to be proud of and should look back on the season with a smile on their face. I know the fans that have followed them all year will.
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