Friday’s game
BOYS
St. John High School 68,
Cunningham 57
CUNNINGHAM (0-5)
Nick Huhman 2 0-0 4, Kyle Kerschen 1 0-0 3, Conor Hamilton 1 0-0 2, Garrett Beat 4 5-9 13, Jordan Schaller 3 4-6 11, Justin Stockhouse 0 0-0 0, Zach Chambers 0 0-0 0, Cody Gridby 7 8-16 22, Chas Ward 1 0-0 2. Totals 19 17-31 57.
ST. JOHN (2-3)
Kade Kinnamon 1 0-0 3, Zach Minnis 11 6-8 32, Kinser Crissman 1 0-3 2, Brandon Blakeslee 4 4-7 12, Omar Ramirez 0 0-0 0, Francisco Calleros 0 0-0 0, Spencer Nusser 3 0-0 9, Jacob Falk 0 0-0 0, Esai Macias 1 0-0 2, Zuviel Reyes 3 0-0 8, Dace Mercer 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 10-18 68.
Cunningham 11 11 8 27 — 57
St. John 18 17 18 15 — 68
Three-point goals — St. John (10) (Minnis 4, Nusser 3, Reyes 2, K. Kinnaman 1); Cunningham 2 (Schaller 1, Kerschen 1).
ST. JOHN — The dribble penetration and athleticism that St. John High School guards Zach Minnis and Brandon Blakeslee possess can make life rough for any opponent.
Outmanned Cunningham found out first-hand Friday night. Though the Wildcats whittled their deficit down to nine points late, St. John coasted to an easy 68-57 victory in the final game for the Tigers (2-3) before the Christmas holidays.
Minnis poured a career-high 32 points, including four of St. John’s 10 3-pointers, and Blakeslee added 12 points in a lopsided game that was nowhere as close as the score indicated.
“He is really good,” St. John head coach Clint Kinnamon said of Minnis, whose penchant for getting to the rim proved to be a headache for Cunningham. “That’s quite a thing when he can score with either hand. Not very many high school players can do that, use both hands.
“I also thought his shot selection was outstanding.”
Spencer Nusser had a trio of 3s, Zuviel Reyes had a pair and Kade Kinnamon had one for the Tigers, who improved to 2-3 on the season.
But it was the Tigers penchant for getting to the basket off penetration that put things in their favor, especially in the third quarter where they unleashed an 18-8 run for a 53-30 advantage.
It made for the fourth quarter as being nothing more than a formality.
Minnis and Blakeslee took over the spotlight during the third period, especially Minnis, who, besides hitting the perimeter shot, used an array of driving layups, mixing it up by changing hands just before releasing his shot at the basket.
Besides his four treys. Minnis also made 6 of 8 free throws.
Blakeslee followed suit, as the duo exposed Cunningham’s lack of perimeter and post defense. When the two players blew past the Wildcats’ defenders off the dribbvle, there was no one dropping off and helping.
“The one thing I was happy with Blakeslee is the way that he was taking it to the rim,” Clint Kinnamon said. “We’re trying to be more than just a spot-up shooter and he did a good job.”
Zach Achor, a 6-foot-4 senior post player, has missed the last four games because of a suspension: violation of team rules.
Clint Kinnamon said it’s likely Achor will be back in the lineup, when the Tigers return to the hardwood on Jan. 7 at home against Ness City. With his return, Achor will do nothing but boost the Tigers overall.
