Todd Golden
The Tribune-Star
Washington — As best it could, Sullivan’s boys basketball team overcame its 9 of 39 shooting performance against Boonville in the Class 3A Washington Regional on Saturday.
With standout center Rhett Smith in foul trouble and on the bench to start the second half, the Golden Arrows persevered for a time and cut a five-point halftime deficit to two.
What Sullivan could not overcome was a lightning quick 7-0 Boonville second-half run and dominance on the boards by the Pioneers throughout the contest. Boonville pulled away in the fourth quarter on its way to a 54-35 victory at the Hatchet House, eliminating Sullivan in the regional semifinals in its first appearance in that round since 2003.
“We made a few turnovers in a row and missed some shots we normally hit, but you have to give them credit. [Boonville’s] length and athletic ability gave us trouble all day,” Sullivan coach Jeff Moore said.
Boonville finished the game with a 36-25 rebounding advantage. Sullivan could penetrate, especially on the baseline, but Pioneers’ big men Brandon Morton (6-foot-6) and Ryan Helfert (6-foot-5) controlled the paint and kept Sullivan from scoring easy baskets. Helfert had four blocks.
“They outmuscled us today. They were a lot bigger, stronger and quicker,” Sullivan guard Dreyson Boyd said.
Sullivan (23-3) was never able to get its offense going. The Arrows were 5 of 24 from the field in the first half, though the blow of the cold shooting was softened somewhat by Smith’s ability to draw fouls. The sophomore star scored nine of Sullivan’s 21 first-half points at the line.
Boonville (19-5) had taken a 22-21 lead — the seventh lead change of the game — with 1:46 left in the second half. It was 24-21 when Smith was called for an offensive foul with 52.1 seconds left in the half, his third foul of the game. Sullivan could not muster another first-half bucket and Ryan Casey’s jumper at the gun gave the Pioneers a 26-21 halftime advantage.
Smith did not start the second half, a potentially ominous prospect for the Arrows. When Boonville scored the first four points of the second half, it seemed even more so.
But Sullivan was briefly able to generate an offensive spark. Boyd drained two buckets in succession, followed by a pair of Caleb Turner free throws to cut Boonville’s lead to 30-28 with 5:25 left in the third quarter.
However, Boonville soon made its counter-punch and was helped by ill-timed Sullivan turnovers. The Pioneers scored three baskets in the span of a minute, the last was a three-point play converted by Marc Collins to give Boonville a 37-28 lead.
Smith returned to the game at that point, but the Arrows went back in their offensive funk. Sullivan would only score two more field goals for the rest of the game as Boonville’s size proved too much to overcome.
“They had 18 offensive rebounds. We tried to block out, but they were so long and athletic, we just had a hard time doing it,” Moore said.
Boonville led 43-31 at the end of the third quarter, and though the Pioneers did not convert a field goal in the fourth quarter, they didn’t need to. Boonville marched to the line 12 times and made 11 of them in the final period, while Sullivan only managed four points in the final quarter.
Smith led all scorers with 16 points, Boyd added 11 for the Arrows. Morton led the Pioneers with 15 points
Sullivan was disappointed in its performance, but the Arrows could take solace in the fact that all but one player on its roster return next season.
“I think it will be a learning experience for all of us. I know I’m going to be encouraging everyone a lot to get in the weight room. We’ll be working hard and we’ll get back next year,” Smith said.
Boyd is the only Sullivan player who will graduate. He’s proud of where the Arrows’ program is headed, even if he won’t be in uniform anymore to continue Sullivan’s progress.
“The only way they can go is up. They haven’t hit their peak yet,” Boyd said. “I wish I could be a couple of years younger.”
