By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The Scott boys’ basketball team has done better than some people expected in the opening weeks of the season without Jake Ohmer, a four-year starter who graduated last spring as the Eagles’ all-time scoring leader.
In the semifinals of the Simon Kenton Invitational Tournament on Friday, Scott defeated the host team, 64-53, to post its fourth straight win and run its record to 6-2. It was the first loss of the season for the Pioneers.
Scott guard Kyren Simpson, left, leans away from Chaz Kitchens of Simon Kenton to get off a shot on a breakaway. (Photo by Marc Figgins)
“Without Jake, everybody kind of doubted us,” Scott junior guard Chad Ohmer said of his older brother who now plays for Western Kentucky University. “But we’re showing them we can win without him, so that’s been good.”
The Eagles are still playing aggressive defense like they did last season when they won the 10th Region championship and made it to the semifinals of the state tournament. In Friday’s game, they forced 20 turnovers and limited Simon Kenton to three field goals in the final five minutes to come away with the victory.
After a breakaway basket by Simon Kenton guard Kelly Neace made it a two-point game, 48-46, Scott closed it out with a 16-7 run. On their final 10 possessions, the Pioneers went 3-for-8 from the field and committed three turnovers.
“The thing about this team is they’re just gritty and scrappy, and that’s why I like them,” said Scott coach Steve Fromeyer. “We practice the same way we play. That first 30 to 45 minutes (in practice) it’s up and down (the court) fast and flying round. That’s how we have to play.”
Scott has five guards in its starting lineup, but they attacked the basket well enough in Friday’s game to shoot 48.9 percent (23 of 47) from the field. Many of the baskets came off turnovers forced by their defense.
Simon Kenton senior Zach Kelch makes a move to the basket with Chad Ohmer guarding him. (Photo by Marc Figgins)
Ohmer scored 15 of his game-high 24 points in the second half for Scott. The team’s other double-figure scorer was senior guard Nelson Perrin with 10 points. Junior guard Kyren Simpson sparked the Eagles’ late scoring run by getting six points and one assist in the final five minutes.
“We’re just sharing the ball a little more,” Ohmer said. “Last year, we knew if we got in a tough spot it was, ‘Jake, here’s the ball,” and he would score for us. But this year we know we’ve got to move the ball and cut and play harder than we did last year, and that’s how we score this year.”
Simon Kenton had a distinct size advantage and shot 55 percent (24 of 43) from the field with center Zach Kelch and forward Andrew Robinson getting 13 points each. But coach Trent Steiner said his team wasn’t able to get the ball inside to them as much as he wanted.
“Their guards are very active in the zone (defense),” Steiner said. “It’s hard to turn the ball over 20 times against a zone, but we did. Give credit to them, they just played really well up top and we acted like we’ve never seen anything like that before.”
Scott will play Collins (6-2) in the tournament’s championship game at 7:15 p.m. Saturday. Simon Kenton will take on Conner in the third-place game at 5:30 p.m.
In three weeks, Scott and Simon Kenton will face each other once again during the Bluegrass-Buckeye Charity Classic on Jan. 12 at BB&T Arena on the campus of Northern Kentucky University. Advance tickets for the rematch will be available at both schools after the holidays.
“Basketball is a game of matchups,” Steiner said. “They won this one, let’s see what happens the next time. Coach (Fromeyer) does a good job. His kids play hard and I think our kids play hard too. We’ll live and learn to play another day.”
SCOTT 13 14 18 20 — 64
SIMON KENTON 8 16 14 15 — 53
SCOTT (6-2): Ohmer 10 2 24, Hunter 2 0 4, Meister 3 2 8, Perrin 3 3 10, Pouncy 2 2 7, Simpson 2 1 6, Joyce 0 2 2, Fulmer 1 0 3. Totals: 23 12 64.
SIMON KENTON (7-1): Robinson 6 0 13, Kelch 6 1 13, Neace 6 0 12, Davis 2 0 6, Hensley 3 0 7, Kitchens 1 0 2. Totals: 24 1 53.
3-pointers: S — Ohmer 2, Perrin, Simpson, Pouncy. SK — Davis 2, Robinson, Hensley.
