Wright City Head Coach David Evans looked up and it was 10-0. The first-year Wildcat boys basketball head coach called a timeout two minutes into his varsity coaching debut against Warrenton Friday …
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Wright City Head Coach David Evans looked up and it was 10-0.
The first-year Wildcat boys basketball head coach called a timeout two minutes into his varsity coaching debut against Warrenton Friday night in an attempt to slow down Warrenton’s offense.
“They finished almost everything at the beginning, and we didn’t,” Evans said after his team’s 74-45 loss. “When you can’t compete back and forth, it becomes a mental game. And that’s tough for any kid.”
Warrenton’s defense in the paint — led by senior forward Caleb Strauss — harassed Wright City guards most of the night.
Missed shots turned into Warrenton fast breaks, and the Warriors extended their lead to 17-2 midway through the first quarter.
“During the preseason, one of my concerns was our ability to finish, and it was a tough game for us,” Evans said. “Warrenton is a tough team, and it is a good measuring stick for us. They came out and they were finishing.”
Wright City shrunk the deficit to 13 by the end of the quarter, but it ballooned to 37-20 at half.
“We were prepared for them to get out and run, but we didn’t utilize our best options,” Evans said. “And when you’re not doing that, and the other team is, it’s tough to compete.”
Wright City senior guard Devon Holmes did his best to keep the Wildcats close in the third quarter.
Holmes scored 12 of the Wildcats’ 13 points in the frame, but Warrenton’s offense continued its hot streak.
Warrior guard Dylan Chandler scored 11 of his 19 points in the third, and Strauss added 10 to push Warrenton’s lead to 32 heading into the fourth.
“We’ll learn from this,” Evans said. “I was hoping our athletic ability would keep us in this a little bit more than it did, so we’ve got some learning to do. Fortunately, we’re back on the court soon.”
The Wildcats return from Thanksgiving break Tuesday when they travel to Barat Academy at 7 p.m., and host South Callaway Friday at 7 p.m. in their first Eastern Missouri Conference game of the season.
“We got down a little early and couldn’t get out of that hole,” Evans said. “We have a lot to work on and a lot of learning to do.”
.BASELINE DRIVE — Wright City's Sean McDonald drives past Warrenton's Brandon Molinari Friday night in Warrenton. Wright City lost, 74-45. Kory Carpenter photo.
