Keely keeps up stellar play, but Rockets’ opening skid drags on

By TYLER ANDERSON tanderson@iowainformation.com

Although it’s been a rough start for the Paton-Churdan boys’ basketball team, there’s some silver lining to be found. The Rockets possess a few promising young players on its roster, and should yield a better future. Freshman Trevon Keely and sophomore Cayden Stream come to mind, along with sophomore Phoenix Hartman.

Right now, that bright future still seems a little ways away.

The orange and black continued their match through the winter sports season last week, as the Rockets dipped in a 75-56 decision against West Harrison in a Rolling Valley Conference game held on Dec. 12 at the Rocket Gym in Churdan, before being dealt with a 77-37 setback at the hands of CAM in a conference contest last Friday in Anita. This past Monday, the Rockets struggled in their nonconference matchup against Woodward-Granger, before falling in a 82-26 final score in Churdan.

With those three setbacks, the Rockets are still searching for their first win at 0-6 in the RVC and 0-8 overall.

The Rockets were in for a challenge this past Tuesday, as Paton-Churdan took to the road to face Exira-EHK for a conference matchup at the Exira-EHK High School Gym in Elk Horn.

A recap from the matchup between the Rockets and Spartans will be reported in an upcoming edition of the Jefferson Herald.

West Harrison 75, Paton-Churdan 56: Playing host to the Hawkeyes for a Rolling Valley Conference matchup on Dec. 12 at the Rocket Gym in Churdan, the Rockets couldn’t overcome a slow start before falling to West Harrison.

Paton-Churdan trailed by only 11 points at 21-10 at the end of the first period, but a sluggish second quarter allowed the Hawkeyes to establish a 44-23 lead at halftime.

The Rockets would produce a good amount of scoring, but it wasn’t enough to bridge the gap before time expired.

Freshman Trevon Keely had an outstanding performance of 27 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals, as sophomore Cayden Stream totaled 12 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists. Junior Kinnick Steimel contributed with six points, four rebounds and one assist, followed by sophomore Phoenix Hartman’s six points, three rebounds and three assists and freshman Blaise Schilling’s three points and one assist.

Freshman Bryce Stephenson registered two points, five rebounds and two steals, while sophomore Hunter Saffell collected three rebounds.

Freshman Landon Vote acquired two rebounds and one assist and teammate Brody Meyer netted one rebound and one assist.

CAM 77, Paton-Churdan 37: Despite a solid start, the Rockets had trouble keeping up with the Cougars, before coming up empty in a Rolling Valley Conference contest held last Friday at the CAM High School Gym in Anita.

Paton-Churdan put up some offense in the opening stanza, but trailed CAM by way of a 27-16 score heading into the second quarter. By halftime, CAM began to pull away with a 44-25 advantage.

From there, the Cougars limited the Rockets to just 12 second half points.

Keely led the way with 23 points, eight rebounds, four steals and one assist, complemented by Hartman’s eight points, four rebounds, four assists and one steal. Stephenson put together three points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal, as Stream compiled three points, three assists, two rebounds, two steals and one block.

Vote picked up two rebounds and one steal, followed by Steimel’s one rebound and one steal.

Meyer also recorded some floor time against the Cougars.

Woodward-Granger 82, Paton-Churdan 26: Welcoming in the Hawks for a nonconference game held this past Monday at the Rocket Gym in Churdan, the orange and black had trouble following a promising first quarter.

Things were going well enough for the Rockets in the first eight minutes of the game, trailing the Hawks by only seven at 14-7 heading into the second quarter. The second stanza did fare so well for the orange and black, though, as the Hawks outscored Paton-Churdan via a 41-5 differential.

By halftime, the Rockets looked up at a profound 55-12 deficit. From there, it was all Hawks. 

Keely again spearheaded the Rockets with seven points, four rebounds, three steals and one block, as Hartman chipped in with seven points, two rebounds and one steal. Stephenson tallied three points, six rebounds and one steal, followed by Stream’s three points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals and Saffell’s three points and two rebounds.

Vote compiled three points and one rebound, as Steimel grabbed two rebounds. Meyer and Schilling each collected one rebound against Woodward-Granger.