Game by Game Summaries

Game 6: Friday, December 12

Site: Kirkwood High School

Final score: Kirkwood 39, Parkway South 25

In the second quarter, Connor Jacobs hit back to back three pointers, and the Pioneers led at halftime 22-7. Kirkwood had contributions from every player, and cruised to a 39-25 win.

Jacobs and Clark Randall each had eight points and five rebounds. Center Sam Evans had five rebounds, two blocks, and two points.

The victory improves the Pioneers season mark to 5-1.

Game 5: Thursday, December 11

Site: St. Louis University High School

Final score: Kirkwood 43, SLUH 42 Double OT

SLUH jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the first quarter. Guard Justin Byrd responded with five straight points to cut SLUH’s lead to 13-7. SLUH went into halftime with an eight point lead, 25-17.

Kirkwood got within six points after three quarters, and tied the game at 40-40 at the end of regulation. Both teams were held scoreless in the first overtime. In the second overtime, guard Joseph Weaver scored, was fouled, and sank the free throw. Kirkwood went on to win the game 43-42.

Guard Kollin Stewart and forward Mike McHugh led the Pioneers with nine points each. Center Lucas Sandheinrich and forward Jeremiah Chester each grabbed 10 rebounds.

Game 4: Tuesday, December 9

Site: Rockwood Summit High School

Final score: Kirkwood 52, Summit 51

Kirkwood's freshmen rolled out to Rockwood Summit to take on the Falcons
freshman squad, and after a long, rainy bus ride, only scored one FG in the
first period, and quickly found themselves down 10-6. The second quarter
belonged to the Pioneers, though, as Connor Jacobs scored 11 points in the
period on an assortment of drives and long jump shots. Mike McHugh had an
impressive "pin" block as he hustled back to contest an unsuspecting Falcons
player who thought he was all alone, and Clayton Burnett was able to
capitalize on two buckets down low. A T.J. Allen put back and a Lucas
Sandheinrich lay-up extended the lead. A Clark Randall three near the end of
the quarter put the Pioneers up 26-18 at the half. The beginning of the
third was more of the same, as pressure from K'wood's press caused
turnovers, and K'wood scored the first 8 points of the quarter on driving
lay-ups and post touches. Jack Stanley's offensive rebound led to a bucket
to put the Pioneers up 34-18 with 3 minutes to go in the 3rd. Summit
mounted a comeback, though, and their well-coached team turned some
tentativeness on Kirkwood's part into some easy lay-ups. Summit tied the
score in the final minute of regulation, and Connor Jacobs' last second shot
went long, forcing overtime. Luckily, Burnett's basket, a Randall free
throw, and Jacobs' big free throws with :12 left in OT sealed the win for
the Pioneers. Jacobs had 23 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals, Burnett
finished with 9 points 6 rebounds, and T.J. Allen finished with 5 pts.

Game 3: Saturday, December 6

Site: Webster Freshman Tournament

Final score: Webster 46, Kirkwood 38

The Pioneers undefeated hopes came to an end in the championship game of the
Webster tournament, falling to the Statesmen 46-38. Kirkwood never had the
lead, as hustle plays by the Webster defense turned into easy points early.
Clayton Burnett, Justin Byrd, and Jack Stanley got baskets in transition
for the Pioneers but K'wood was down 15-10 at the end of a quarter. Connor
Jacobs made his presence felt in the second quarter, scoring on a drive,
getting three rebounds, a steal, and hitting two free throws, but a T.J.
Allen bucket was the only other field goal the Pioneers scored in the
period, going into the half down 25-18. The third quarter saw things heat
up a bit, but timely shooting by Webster's guards negated a three by Clark
Randall and two big blocks by Sam Evans. After a brief run and several
steals by Mike McHugh and a put back by Burnett, the Pioneers found
themselves only down four, but Webster had answers for each big play. In
the end the score was 46-38, Webster Groves. Randall finished with 12
points 4 assists, Burnett had 6 pts 6 rebounds, and Evans had 8 rebounds, 3
blocks.

Game 2: Tuesday, December 2

Site: Webster Freshman Tournament

Final score: Kirkwood 61, University City 60 Double OT

In the winner's bracket, the Pioneers faced a tough U. City squad that had
demolished Lindbergh the previous night. Times were tough early as the
Lions jumped out to an 8-2 lead on strong penetration from their quick
left-handed point guard (33 pts in the game). Both teams fouled early and
often, and the Pioneers scored plenty on the free throw line. A Sam Evans
post basket and several free throws brought the Wood back to 10-6 at the
quarter. The second quarter was back and forth, as U. City made it to the
line 14 times in the period, scoring on 10 attempts. Chris Taylor and
Clayton Burnett saw strong drives turn into free throw conversions, and
baskets by Mike McHugh and Kollin Stewart kept it close. Halftime the Wood
was down 30-23. In the third quarter, the Pioneers made it closer with some
decent pressure. Clark Randall was able to get past the Lions' half court
trap and start the offense, finding Kollin Stewart for a three point play.
David Niemann had several big rebounds and was 2-2 from the line, and T.J.
Allen found Jack Stanley on a long pass for a layup to pull the Pioneers
within three. Taylor's strong defense and three point play aided in the
comeback. K'wood was down 44-41 at the end of the third. In the fourth,
Taylor again was big, hitting another three point play, and Sam Evans had
three big blocks. Lucas Sandheinrich also had several key rebounds and put
in a couple of free throws, and a Byrd drive led to 2 FT's that tied the
game. The Pioneers shot 13 for 15 from the line in the quarter. In the
overtime session, U. City took the lead, but drives to the basket and free
throws by Byrd and Randall in the final minute gave Kirkwood the lead, and
the Lions could not score in the final seconds, giving K'wood the win.
Randall finished with 21 pts, 5 assists, and only 2 turnovers (13-16 FT),
Taylor had 11 pts 2 stl (7-9 FT), Evans finished with 6 pts, 10 reb, and 4
blocks. Kirkwood shot 36-44 from the line (82%).

Game 1: Monday, December 1

Site: Webster Freshman Tournament

Final score: Kirkwood 52, Ladue 46

The Freshman Pioneers got underway in their first round game of the Webster
tournament as they faced Ladue. Several strong trips to the basket by
Justin Byrd, along with the strong inside play of Clayton Burnett helped the
Pioneers to a 7-3 first quarter lead, and the second quarter saw Clark
Randall hit two big three pointers and more hustle by Byrd and several
steals by Mike McHugh. Strong pressure and contested shots were the key
cause of Kirkwood's 21-12 halftime lead. The Pioneers came out big in the
third quarter, getting the ball inside to Sam Evans, who had six points in
the quarter. Ryan Bearden, Chris Taylor, and Jack Stanley provided the
energy, and Clark Randall scored 12 points in the third to jump out to a
41-26 advantage. Ladue made a push in the fourth, cutting K'wood's lead to
four points at one point, but buckets by Burnett, free throws by Bearden,
and a big three-point play from Evans sealed the deal in the final minutes.
Randall finished with 21 points and 4 assists (4-4 3 pt FG), Evans had 9 pts
9 rebounds, Burnett had 10 pts 3 steals, and Byrd finished with 7 pts.