Plano can't convert late chances, fall 51-49
PLANO – The saying may be “third time’s a charm,” but Plano was counting on a fourth chance to tie or take the lead during Friday’s Interstate Eight Conference game against visiting Streator.
Like the three offensive opportunities that preceded it, Plano proved unable to convert a big basket in the clutch, losing a heartbreaker, 51-49.
“Streator does a good job of being physical and being in the way all the time,” Plano coach Kyle Kee said. “We just needed a play down the stretch and we didn’t get it and they got it.”
Trailing 51-49 after Streator’s Jimmy Treadwill split a pair of free throws with 37 seconds left, the Reapers were whistled for an offensive foul.
Plano (12-10, 3-3) then forced a turnover and looked to score easily the other way, but the Reapers were somewhat out of control and couldn’t finish.
Fortunately, the rebound caromed off a Bulldog and out of bounds so the Reapers received the ball right back. Unfortunately, Mason Benning, who had a career night offensively for the Bulldogs, came up with a huge play defensively, drawing an offensive foul on Ka’Jon Smith (9 points) with 14 seconds left.
“We struggled to get anything going around the basket,” Kee said. “Our shooting percentage inside the lane had to be pretty bad and I thought we were getting good looks but we couldn’t put the ball in the basket.”
Forced to then foul with time running out, the Reapers caught a break as Christian Bedecker missed both shots of a double bonus. The Reapers attempted a driving shot the other way, but it rimmed out and Grant Mascal secured his game-high 13th rebound for the Bulldogs just before the buzzer sounded.
“We just have to be better,” Kee said. “We have to be able to execute and find a way to win these close games.”
Streator (8-11, 4-2) received a fearless performance from Benning, who scored 31 points, easily eclipsing his previous best of 22 points. The 6-foot-1 junior took a blow to the face in the first half, but returned with his nose bandaged after his blood was wiped off the gym floor. Benning scored all 16 of his team’s points when Streator jumped to a 16-10 lead after one quarter.
“Coach wanted us to come out and be on fire and we did that,” Benning said. “I just tried to keep doing what I was doing all game, score the ball and get the guys the ball when I could.”
A negative trend for Plano this season has been superstar players having especially big nights against the Reapers. Friday night was Benning’s turn.
“I don’t know what it is this year, but we pick a guy on the other team to have a career night,” Kee said. “We’ve just struggled against good players that have really good games. To have 31 points, that’s a career night for him and we just didn’t have an answer.”
The Reapers outscored the Bulldogs, 16-4, in the second quarter, to lead 26-20 at the half, their biggest lead of the game.
“I thought we played good,” said Plano senior Nic Woodhouse, who led a balanced attack with 10 points, all in the first half. “Even though we hadn’t played in a long time, everybody was focused.”
Junior Robbie Taylor’s three-pointer, his first basket of the game, gave the Reapers their final lead at 45-44 midway through the fourth quarter. He’d add a putback with 1:45 left to pull the Reapers, who had 14 second-chance points, to within 50-48 but they’d never get any closer. Bryson Schmidt provided aspark off the bench with eight points.
Plano's Robbie Taylor (33) shoots a free throw late in the 4th quarter of play against Streator in Plano Feb. 1.
Plano's Griffin Cross (22) drives to the basket against Streator's Mason Benning (4) in Plano Feb. 1.
Plano's Bryson Schmidt (5) rebounds the ball against Streator in Plano Feb. 1.
Plano's Demond Williams (3) drives to the basket against Streator's Grant Mascal (55) in Plano Feb. 1.
Plano's Patrick Johnson (25) drives to the basket against Streator's Christian Bedecker (24) and Jimmy Tredway (30) in Plano Feb. 1.
Plano's Robbie Taylor (33) fights for position under the basket against Streator's Jimmy Tredway (30) in Plano Feb. 1.
Plano's Griffin Cross (22) shoots the ball over Streator's Grant Mascal (55) in Plano Feb. 1.
Streator's Mason Benning (4) defends against Plano's Nic Woodhouse (10) in Plano Feb. 1.
Plano's Ka'Jon Smith (11) drives to the basket against Streator's Jimmy Tredway (30) in Plano Feb. 1.
Streator's Mason Benning (4) drives to the basket against Plano's Demond Williams (3) in Plano Feb. 1.