Collinsville could not overcome a third quarter scoring drought or a barrage of Mt. Vernon 3-pointers Friday, losing the championship of the Pyramid Plus Tournament.
The Kahoks came out of halftime with a one-point lead, but went cold from the floor and found themselves trailing 52-44 entering the fourth
Image by Roger Starkey
quarter. Collinsville managed only nine points in the third quarter, three fewer than junior guard Anfirnee Wilkinson scored in the first quarter.
Wilkinson poured in 15 of Collinsville’s 28 fourth-quarter points, but the Rams answered back with 23. Sophomore guard Braden Fitzjerrels hit a last-second 3-pointer to give Mt. Vernon the victory.
Wilkinson scored a game-high 33 points, including 4 3-pointers. Fitzjerrels’ 28 points, including six 3-pointers, led the Rams.
Collinsville struggled with their man-to-man defense in the three games to open the season and often resorted to a zone defense. Collinsville Head Coach Darin Lee said it didn’t matter what defense the team played Friday, it was no match for the sharp-shooting Rams.
“We couldn’t defend them zone or man,” Lee said. “We’re just not a very good defensive team yet.”
Fitzjerrels hit six 3-pointers and senior guard Jake Pike added four more. Mt. Vernon’s sharp shooters were a concern for Lee entering the game.
“I thought if they hit 10 3’s for the game we’d lose, and we did,” Lee said.
Pike finished the game with 16 points. Senior center Shakari Hawkins scored 23. Hawkins went 6-7 from the free throw line during the pivotal fourth quarter.
Kahoks junior center Sean Davis scored 15points, but shot only 3 of 8 from the free throw line. No other Kahoks player reached double figures. Senior Jacob Shaffer scored five points, junior guard Brett Langley scored six. Junior forward Harrison Wethers scored five, junior center Emondre Rickman scored four, as did Sr. Forward Matt Chambers.
Although both Mt. Vernon and Collinsville play Saturday, the winner of the game Friday between the two 3-0 teams clinched the best overall record in the round-robin format, and the championship.
Collinsville plays Marion Saturday at 8:30 in the final game of the Pyramid Plus Tournament in Nashville.
