Sheridan boys open their season with overtime victory over Cowan
By RICHIE HALL
SHERIDAN – A beloved Sheridan alumnus returning as head coach. A group of young and enthusiastic players.
There are already plenty of reasons to like the Blackhawks’ boys basketball team this season.
Sheridan began its 2022-23 season Tuesday by playing another “Blackhawks” team, from Cowan at Larry Hobbs Hall. It was an exciting and close game throughout, with Sheridan prevailing in overtime 65-60.
The game also marked the return of Bill Bowen, the 1971 Sheridan graduate and basketball star back to coach his alma mater. Bowen was pleased with the energy and enthusiasm of his team in their first game – this Blackhawks team doesn’t have any seniors, but it does have a good number of players who already seem to know about finding ways to win.
“It’s not quite this simple and it doesn’t always work out, but by and large, victory favors the team with the most grit,” said Bowen. “We want to try to bring that every team.” Bowen called that an intangible that “we can control.”
Coach Bill Bowen exchanges high-fives with the
Cowan team after Sheridan won its season-opener. (Richie Hall)
That grit served Sheridan well in a game where neither team led by more than five points. Cowan looked to have the upper hand when it led 55-52 with the clock about to hit zero in the fourth quarter. But Sheridan sophomore Owen Bell put up a 3-point shot that went in at the buzzer, forcing the game into overtime.
Bell had more heroics at the ready. Cowan won the extra period’s tipoff, but Bell immediately stole the ball and took it down to score. Cowan would tie the game with a layin, but after Parker Williams drained a 3-pointer to give his team a 60-57 lead, Sheridan never trailed again in the game.
“He scored five unanswered points himself,” said Bowen of Bell. “It was huge. He’s off the bench. Everybody has a role, and we hope that you’re the best you can do at your role.”
Cowan had a definite size advantage, as it played with 6-9 junior Cole Duncan. Cowan jumped out to a 5-0 lead at the start of the game, prompting a quick timeout from Bowen.
Sheridan got itself together after the timeout, and went on a 7-0 run right afterwards. Caleb Wright made a putback to get the first points, then Tyler Garner made a layin and Carsen Aleman converted a three-point play.
Wright took over in the later stages of the first quarter, with eight points, including a triple. That kept Sheridan in the game, as it trailed 16-15 going into the second quarter. Cowan extended its lead to 20-16, but another 7-0 Sheridan run got the home team ahead 23-20. Trent DeCraene hit a 3, then Bell scored consecutive baskets.
Cowan nailed back-to-back 3s to go up 26-23, but Sheridan got the last two baskets for a 27-26 halftime lead. Evan Krupp and Williams both scored on layins.
The three-ball was big for Sheridan in the third quarter, with Wright nailing two 3s and DeCraene making another. Krupp’s 3 and a Wright layin pushed Sheridan ahead 44-39 late in the third before Duncan scored, cutting that lead to 44-41 as the game moved into the fourth quarter.
Cowan used a 6-0 run to lead 47-46 as the period approached its midpoint, then jumped ahead by 52-47 with under two minutes to go. Sheridan quickly tied the game on a DeCraene free throw, Williams putback and Garner layin. A basket by Mason Kidd and a Duncan free throw pushed Cowan ahead 55-52, but Bell took over after that.
Wright led Sheridan’s scoring with 23 points, while Bell had 12 points and DeCraene scored 10. Williams led the rebounds with seven, followed by DeCraene with six; DeCraene also dished out four assists.
Sheridan plays its first road game of the season Saturday at Southmont.
SHERIDAN 65, COWAN 60
(overtime)
Sheridan FG FT TP PF
Tyler Garner 2-7 0-0 4 5
Trent DeCraene 2-8 4-7 10 0
Caleb Wright 10-14 0-0 23 1
Parker Williams 2-3 2-5 7 2
Carsen Aleman 2-6 1-2 5 2
Evan Krupp 2-6 1-3 6 3
Owen Bell 4-8 3-4 12 2
Eli Kolb 0-0 0-0 0 0
Nate Hinshaw 0-3 0-0 0 0
Totals 24-55 11-21 67 15
Score by Quarters
Cowan 16 10 15 14 5 – 60
Sheridan 15 12 17 11 10 – 65
Sheridan 3-point shooting (8-19) Wright 3-5, DeCraene 2-4, Krupp 1-3, Bell 1-2, Williams 1-1, Garner 0-3, Hinshaw 0-1.
Sheridan rebounds (27) Williams 7, DeCraene 6, Wright 4, Garner 3, Krupp 2, Bell 2, Kolb 2, Aleman 1.