Potter-Dix Boys Win Back-To-Back First Time This Year

The Potter-Dix Coyote basketball teams hosted the Crawford Rams on Thursday, and the winless Lady Coyotes started off the action against the 10-and-9 Lady Rams unable to break the Crawford press.

The Lady Rams harassed and pressured the Lady Coyotes into turnovers and limited the Potter-Dix offense to just six points in the first quarter.

The Lady Rams seemed to steal the ball at will, and the vast majority of the half was played on the wrong side of the court for the home team and the Lady Coyotes went into the break trailing 39-to-16. Crawford kept up the defensive intensity in the second half, smothering the Lady Coyote's offense and putting the game away easily with a final score of 63-to-26, limiting Potter-Dix to 10 second half points.

The boys contest started with the Rams taking advantage of their speed and height to break out to an early lead, then the Crawford defense took over and disrupted the Coyote's passing attack and jammed the inside lanes. The offensive pace slowed for both sides, and the Rams went into the break with a 21-to-14 lead. But Potter-Dix came out hot in the second half with a three point hit followed by senior Terell Gray scoring two more to narrow the lead. With five minutes left in the period, the Coyotes opened a 23-to-21 lead. At around the two minute mark, freshman Luke Kasten drained a three pointer, putting Potter-Dix up 35-to-23 prompting a Crawford time out.

The fourth quarter started with the Coyotes up 10, 35-to-25, and Crawford started to fight their way back. After going on a 6-to-2 run, Crawford senior standout Will Ackerman nailed a three pointer from way beyond the arc to cut the Coyotes' lead down to 37-to-34 with 5:45 left. Potter-Dix's offense went cold firing off hurried shots while missing free throws when sent to the line.

Both teams continued the physical pace of the game while the officials let them play, and another Ackerman three pointer from nearly mid court edged the Rams to within one at 38-to-37. After being fouled attempting a three pointer by Kasten, Ackerman then drained three straight free throws to knot the score at 40 all with three and a half minutes remaining. Potter-Dix sophomore Jared Anton responded with a jump shot for two, then after a Crawford turnover Anton fired in a three pointer to put the Coyotes back on top 45-to-40.

But Ackerman responded right back with another three pointer to narrow the lead to 45-to-43. In the last two minutes, Potter-Dix put up another score, forcing the Rams to foul to extend the game. The Coyotes again had trouble at the line, keeping the Rams in the game.

The Rams were able to pull to within 1 at 48-to-47 with eight seconds left. Kasten was able to sink a free throw, and desperation three pointer by Ackerman at the buzzer missed, and the Coyotes held on to win by a final score of 49-to-47.

Potter-Dix's 21-to-4 impressive third quarter was the key, giving the Coyotes enough cushion to outlast the rallying Rams. Anton led the scoring for the Coyotes with 18 points, and Kasten and Gray both finished in double figures.

The Potter-Dix boys next hosted the Garden County Eagles on Friday, and a solid offensive effort in the first half put the Coyotes up 25-to-13 going into the half. The Eagles made adjustments to beat the Coyote pressure, and were able to establish an offensive rhythm in the third quarter while the Coyotes struggled defensively. But Potter-Dix was able to recover in the final frame, outscoring the visitors and ending any hopes of a rally. Potter-Dix earned the 52-to-40 win, giving the Coyotes their first back-to-back wins of the season.

Gray dominated on the inside, putting up 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in the win. Potter-Dix next travels to Peetz on Thursday and then to Sedgwick County on Saturday.