Chaffee converts free throws at end to dump Kelly

BENTON, Mo. -- In the throws of a six-game losing streak, the Chaffee Red Devils needed a win against Scott County rival Kelly.

"We wanted this one really, really bad," Chaffee sophomore Alex Crowe said.

Chaffee's defense delivered the victory.

The Red Devils held the host Hawks to seven fourth-period points as they made up a six-point deficit to beat Kelly 46-40 in a sloppy game.

Chaffee coach Josh Govreau said his team, which improved to 3-6, has to play tough defense to have any hopes of winning games.

"Right now, we're struggling to put the ball in the hole," he said. "We've got to keep the score in the 40s to have a chance."

Both teams played tenacious man-to-man defense and employed half-court trap pressure all evening. Poor shooting and turnovers kept the score down until Chaffee came to life in the final eight minutes.

The Red Devils held Kelly to four points in the first five minutes of the final period, allowing them to get within striking distance. It was junior guard Jason Cicardi's off-balance circus shot off the glass with 1 minute, 36 seconds left that gave Chaffee its first lead at 40-39.

After a turnover, Jordan Yahn made 1 of 2 free throws to make it a two-point Chaffee lead. Then came a pair of huge plays that doomed Kelly.

Chaffee trapped a Kelly player in the backcourt along the sideline and Cicardi stripped the ball. While falling out of bounds into his own bench, Cicardi threw the ball off the Kelly player, giving the Red Devils possession.

"I was in the air," Cicardi said about his tumble into the bench while making the steal, "and I saw him and decided to try to throw it off him."

The second big play came with 27 seconds left and Chaffee clinging to a 42-40 lead. The Red Devils' Nate Cicardi was fouled and went to the line, where he missed both free throws. But Alex Davie hustled to get the offensive rebound and retain possession for Chaffee, which converted four free throws in the final 21 seconds to seal the win.

"The team that executes well will win," Govreau said. "Tonight for three quarters we never did execute. But in the fourth quarter, we finally got something going."

Crowe led Chaffee with 13 points, while Jordan Yahn had 11 and Jason Cicardi knocked down nine.

Trey Drury had a dozen points to lead Kelly, which led by as many as seven in the third period.

Not only did the sequence of late turnovers hurt Kelly, but so did foul trouble. Four Hawks fouled out as they sent Chaffee to the line for 38 attempts. Chaffee made only 58 percent from the line, but made them down the stretch when the game was on the line.

Chaffee 10 8 9 19 -- 46

Kelly 11 10 12 7 -- 40

CHAFFEE (46) -- Andy Terhune 7, Jordan Yahn 11, Michael Rutherford 2, Jason Cicardi 9, Alex Crowe 13, Alex Davie 1, Trevor Cannon 2, Nathan Cicardi 1. FG 12, FT 22-38, F 23. (3-pointers made: none. Fouled out: Rutherford)

KELLY (40) -- Michael Fisher 5, Dustin Crowden 6, Trent Felter 6, Blake Wadlington 3, Garrett Alsup 2, Trey Drury 12, Stosh Lovett 4. FG 10, FT 17-23, F 28. (3 pointers made: Drury 2, Wadlington 1. Fouled out: Felter, Alsup, Fisher, Crowden)