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Red Dragons improve for first victory
By Steve ruman
NILES
In football, there’s an old saying which suggests that teams show the most improvement between the first and second games of the season.
Rarely is this brought up in basketball, but as far as Niles High School coach Ron Price is concerned, there is some merit to the saying.
Three days after losing at Jefferson in their season opener, the Red Dragons (1-1) found their groove Friday in a 64-51 home win over Hubbard.
Niles senior Cameron Kane-Johnson scored a game-high 23 points. The sharpshooter connected on six 3-pointers. All of Kane-Johnson’s field goals came from beyond the arc — including several from beyond 30 feet.
Corbin Foy added 12 points for Niles, while Brylen Caddiell and Isaiah Warner chipped in with nine and seven points, respectively.
Hubbard (0-2) was paced by Brendan Candella’s 12 points. Davion Daniels (10 points) and Nick Ferrara (nine points) came off the Eagles bench to help their cause.
“I thought we did some nice things,” Price said. “Tuesday, we got pounded on the boards, tonight we did a better job getting rebounds.
“Tuesday, we were 7-of-30 from three-point range, tonight we made 12 threes. We did much better from the free throw line tonight, and it all added up to a nice win against a good team that wouldn’t quit.”
Hubbard’s Adam Schroeder made the first basket of the game to give the Eagles their only lead.
After Schroeder’s bucket, Niles scored eight straight points, and led 19-6 at the end of the first period.
Kane-Johnson was held scoreless through the first seven minutes of the period, but connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the frame. Kane-Johnson’s second shot came at the buzzer from just inside the midcourt circle.
“Cameron, he always has the green light, and he’s a very smart ballplayer,” Price said. “He never gets rattled.”
Trailing by 12 at the break, Hubbard hit back-to-back baskets to start the third quarter, cutting its deficit to 33-25. However, Foy — a freshman — hit back-to-back 3-pointers to help Niles pull away for good. Warner also hit four consecutive free throws in the third quarter to further extend the Dragons’ lead.
“We had a number of guys step up and make contributions tonight at key moments, and that’s what led to this win,” Price said. “We know what we’re going to get from Cameron. When we get others involved, we’re going to be just that much better.”
Hubbard coach Justin Townsend was pleased with his team’s effort.
“I think we competed well, I think this was the type of game where in the past we might have folded and failed to compete,” Townsend said. “The kids continued to battle, and I like the progress we’re making.”
“We have some young kids who gave us some very quality minutes tonight. We’re just trying to find the right combination, but right now I love their fight.”