CATLIN — One good half and one bad half.
That’s how Saturday’s Vermilion Valley Conference boys basketball opener played out for both Hoopeston Area and Salt Fork, but neither coach thought that playing two games in 24 hours was an excuse.
In the end, Hoopeston Area’s second half was just a little better than Salt Fork’s first half as the Cornjerkers claimed a 40-36 victory over the Storm.
“Yes, it’s the first time that we’ve played back-to-back games this season, but it’s not an excuse,’’ Salt Fork coach Andrew Johnson said. “Our kids played an efficient enough first half to tell me their legs were fine. It was just the lack of execution down the stretch.
“Like you said, a tale of two halves.’’
It was the same song, just in reverse for the Cornjerkers.
“We just didn’t come to play in the first half,’’ Hoopeston Area coach Kevin Root said. “I don’t know if it was because I was yelling at halftime, it seemed like we did this a week and a half ago. I had to yell at halftime to get these kids to start playing. I shouldn’t have to do that, and I told them that.’’
Actually the turnaround for the Conjerkers (7-3 overall, 1-0 in the VVC) started in the final minutes of the second quarter.
The Storm (3-2 overall, 0-1 in the VVC) saw their 11-point lead (22-11) trimmed to 22-17 at halftime with a 6-0 run over the final 2 minutes, 38 seconds thanks in part to a couple of turnovers by Salt Fork.
And that was just the start.
Hoopeston Area proceeded to score the first six points of the second half, giving the Cornjerkers a 12-0 run in 5:16 of game action.
“Give them credit, their defense frustrated us,’’ Johnson said. “We threw the ball to them a lot. I don’t know exactly what the points off turnovers was in the game, but I guarantee it wasn’t pretty for us.’’
Part of the problems for the Storm was the fact that the Cornjerkers implemented a 2-2-1 three-quarter court zone press that fell back in a 1-3-1 defense.
At the front of the Hoopeston Area three-quarter court press was 6-foot-3 forward Kendrick Sigerill and 6-2 forward Owen Root.
“We just wanted to force them to throw it over those big guys,’’ Root said. “We are not trying to get a steal in the backcourt, we are trying to get a steal at the next level with our guards Wyatt Eisenmann, Trenton Montez and Dylan Judy.
“We want to get a big trap as soon as they cross midcourt. We were not always aggressive, but when we were, it seemed to pay off.’’
In a span of about 12 minutes, Hoopeston Area has turned a 11-point deficit (22-11) into an 8-point lead (34-26) with Trenton Montez having eight of his 11 points during that stretch.
Salt Fork came back to tie the game at 34 on a basket by Evan Webb with 2:52 left, but that would be as close as they would get. Webb had a game-high 18 points.
The Storm had one final chance with 20 seconds remaining, down 38-36, but they turned the ball and it led to a game-clinching basket for Owen Root, who finished with 11 points.
“We didn’t get a shot up and that’s not good,’’ Johnson said. “Our lack of execution was a big part of that, but you also have to give them credit on defense. We have to play better…but they did what they did needed to do to win the game.’’
Forcing that turnover for Hoopeston Area was Montez.
“One of the big things we talked about at halftime was getting deflections,’’ Root said. “Trenton got the tip that let Judy steal the ball. If that tip doesn’t happen, they can get a shot off and possibly win the game.
“That’s a great defensive play.’’
Neither shot very well at the free-throw line on Saturday.
Hoopeston Area was a disappointing 7-of-15 at the charity stripe, while Salt Fork was a dismal 3-of-14.
“That will never win you any games,’’ Johnson said. “You don’t want to start the conference season off on the wrong front, but there are a lot of games left in the season. We have a group of kids that need to grow into their roles and mature as basketball players and young adults.’’
Both teams are back in action tonight. Salt Fork travels to Armstrong-Potomac, while Hoopeston Area will host Westville.
Hoopeston Area 40, Salt Fork 36
Hoopeston Area (40) — Wyatt Eisenmann 2 1-2 5, Dylan Judy 0 0-0 0, Owen Root 5 1-2 11, Trenton Montez 5 1-4 11, Zach Huchel 0 0-0 0, Mason Rush 1 1-2 4, Kendrick Sigerill 3 3-5 9, Ethan Steiner 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 7-15 40.
Salt Fork (36) — Grant Wilson 2 0-0 4, Ty Smoot 0 0-4 0, Ian Church 0 0-0 0, Evan Webb 9 0-5 18, Kamdyn Keller 1 0-1 2, Jameson Remole 2 3-4 8, Evan Hageman 0 0-0 0, Hayden Chew 2 0-0 4. Totals: 16 3-14 36.
Hoopeston Area 8 9 14 9 — 40
Salt Fork 10 12 4 10 — 36
3-pointers — Hoopeston Area 1 (Rush). Salt Fork 1 (Remole). Total fouls — Hoopeston Area 16, Salt Fork 18. Fouled out — Eisenmann, Sigerill, Wilson, Chew. Technical fouls — none.
Records — Hoopeston Area 7-3 overall, 1-0 in the Vermilion Valley Conference. Salt Fork 3-2 overall, 0-1 in the VVC.