Collinsville could not overcome Edwardsville’s trio of Division I prospects and 21 turnovers Saturday, losing 60-40 in each team’s Southwestern Conference opener.
Jacob Shaffer / Photo by Roger Starkey
Thanks to repeated turnovers, the game was nearly three minutes old before Collinsville (0-1 Southwestern Conference, 3-3) attempted its first shot. Despite the early struggles to maintain possession, the Kahoks managed to grab their only lead of the game at 9-6 on a jump hook from junior center Emondre Rickman with 2 minutes and 50 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Edwardsville (1-0 SWC, 5-0) followed with a 3-pointer, two steals, a layup and a dunk to take the lead for good. Collinsville trailed 13-11 at the end of the first quarter.
A 3-pointer by CHS senior guard Jacob Shaffer brought the Kahoks to within a point, at 15-14 early in the second quarter, but Edwardsville took charge shortly thereafter when senior guard Shawn Roundtree converted on a four-point-play. Roundtree, who has offers from several Division I schools, led all scorers with 23 points.
The Tigers outscored Collinsville 8-2 the rest of the way to take a 27-16 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Edwardsville was consistently more aggressive to the basket in the first half, drawing fouls and converting free throws. The Tigers made 7 of 12 free throw attempts in the first half. Collinsville committed seven fouls in the first half, compared to only two for Edwardsville. CHS shot only two free throws for the game.
The Kahoks showed some life to start the third quarter with junior guard Brett Langley knocking down a pair of early 3-pointers to narrow the gap to 32-24. A 10-point run by the Tigers followed, capped with a steal and layup by senior guard Trevor Clay. Collinsville never threatened the lead again.
Clay, a transfer from Crossroads College Prep in St. Louis, scored 12 points. He has at least one offer to play Division I when his year at Edwardsville High School is complete.
Despite the 20-point loss, Collinsville Head Coach Darin Lee said the defense played as well as it had all season. The 60 points allowed were a season-best for Collinsville, despite 21 turnovers.
Shaffer and Langley led CHS with eight points each. Shaffer scored all of his points in the first half, before picking up his third foul with 4:35 remaining in the half. Langley scored all eight of his points in the second half.
Junior guard Anfirnee Wilkinson came into the game averaging 18.6 points, but managed only two points in the game. Wilkinson attempted only one second-half shot.
Lee said team turnovers, good defenders and Wilkinson concentrating less on scoring and more on getting the offense set against a quality opponent contributed to Wilkinson’s subpar offensive game.
Senior forward Armon Fletcher was the second-leading scorer for the Tigers, with 15. Fletcher also has several Division I scholarship offers to continue playing after high school.
After six straight road games to start the season, Collinsville is home Tuesday against East St. Louis and Friday against O’Fallon. Both games start at 7:30 in Fletcher Gym.
