Comets smother Dragons, move to 12-5

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Caston senior Daniel Scales handles the ball up top Friday night against Argos in Fulton. Photo provided

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February 2, 2013

Comets smother Dragons, move to 12-5

by Jason Herd For the Pharos-Tribune Pharos-Tribune Sat Feb 02, 2013, 03:42 AM EST

FULTON — Last weekend the Caston Comets rebounded from a crucial loss to Pioneer the previous evening by winning at Faith Christian 36-19.

Twenty-six of those points came from the free throw line, as the Comets hit just four field goals and shot a dismal 13 percent from the field. Despite the poor offensive showing, coach Ben Snyder praised his team’s defensive effort, which has been the catalyst of Caston’s success all year long.

On Friday night the Comets entertained Argos and looked to score four straight victories over the Dragons. Defense was again the key, as Caston ran away with a 46-26 victory.

Senior Jake Howdeshell paced the Comets with eight first quarter points, including two 3s. Of all the defensive schemes drawn up to stop Caston’s perimeter assault this season, no one had tried putting six players on the floor, until Friday. Argos was called on the inadvertent mishap, which resulted in a technical foul. Howdeshell hit both free throws, extending Caston’s lead to 13-6 at the end of the first.

Howdeshell opened the second quarter in similar fashion, drilling two more 3s to start a 10-0 run. Quentin Douglass scored on a lob pass from Corey Moss with 4:20 remaining. Douglass finished with 12 points in the contest.

With Comet defenders filling passing lanes and applying stifling ball pressure, Argos turned the ball over with regularity. Ricky Rice scored the Dragons’ only field goal of the period at the 2:49 mark. Douglass extended the Comet lead to 25-9 with two free throws heading into halftime.

Sophomore Wyatt Kelley nailed a 3 at the outset of the third, stretching the Caston lead to 19. Alex Blum responded with a 3, which again proved to be the Dragons’ only field goal of the period. Argos was limited to just seven field goals on the night.

Daniel Scales orchestrated a 6-0 run through the middle of the quarter by assisting to Douglass on another alley-oop, then scoring consecutive baskets himself to push the lead to 26 by the 1:15 mark. Scales finished the night with six points. Howdeshell scored on a pull-up jumper as the quarter came to a close, with Caston leading 38-12.

Howdeshell hit his fifth three to open the final period. He finished with a game-high 22 points.

The Dragons dropped to 4-12 with the loss.

Caston (12-5) hosts Wabash (4-10) tonight.