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Seneca Scorches Amboy

Irish Torrid Shooting Blazes Sectional Trail

 

By Bill Lidinsky

 

  Playing a varsity basketball game against Seneca High School on a normal night is a daunting task for almost any opponent.

  But when you add to the mix that it’s a high pressure IHSA sectional playoff game, and the defending Class A state champs are blistering the nets shooting the ball, an opposing teams chances of winning are slim to none and slim went home at halftime.

  Such was the fate for the Amboy Clippers on Wednesday evening during the second sectional semifinal in as many nights at Plano High School. The Irish torched the Reaper gymnasium nets on their way to a 46-33 victory and a berth in the sectional championship game on Friday night against Putnam County.

  While the 46 points don’t indicate a boat load of basketballs going through the twines, Seneca was extremely efficient on the shots they did take.

  All in all, the Irish were 19-of-31 (61%) from the field on the night and an awe inspiring 12-of-16 (75%) shooting in the first half. Amboy never had a prayer.

  “They shot the lights out tonight against us,” said Amboy head basketball coach Mike McCracken. “Not only that, they played some great defense which we knew they would. They brought their ‘A’ game this evening and we didn’t. You don’t stay with ranked teams unless you play your best and we certainly didn’t. They’re a great ballclub.”

  Seneca senior Ben Paulsen gave an indication very early on as to the eventual outcome as he opened the game with a three ball on the Irish first possession. Paulsen (9 points) was three-of-four on the night from the field, all coming on triples, including two in the first quarter that saw a 15-4 Seneca advantage after eight minutes.

  “Amboy came out in a triangle and two. They weren’t going to let Griffan (Callahan) and Seth (Evans) shoot so the coaches told me to take the open shots and I was able to hit them,” Paulsen said.

  While the Irish were busy building their lead on offense, their defense was stellar in the first half holding Amboy scoreless for over nine minutes between the first and second periods

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  Meanwhile, Callahan and Evans were hitting almost everything they put up in the second quarter. Callahan tallied seven of his game high 18 points in the period, while Evans added six of his 11 tallies on the night as Seneca toasted Amboy to the tune of a 28-12 lead at halftime on the 12-of-16 shooting.

  “We really had it going shooting in the first half. Ben got us started with the threes and it was all great from there, especially in the third quarter when Griffan took over in the post,” Seth Evans said.

  Callahan punctuated his fabulous eight-of-10 shooting performance from the field with a dominating effort in the low post in the third quarter. The senior all state candidate muscled in seven points down low in the stanza to help give the Irish an insurmountable 38-20 advantage going into the final eight minutes of play.

  “My coaches got me down there. They knew I could score in the post and I didn’t really realize it until the third quarter when I started doing it,” Callahan said.

  In the fourth period the victory was all but sealed for Seneca as they opened up a 21 point advantage at 43-22 on Paulsen’s third three ball and another Callahan deuce with 6:05 to play.

  McCracken pulled his starters with just under four minutes to play and despite three triples by the Clipper reserves down the stretch, the Irish prevailed by 13.

  “We felt like Griffan could score down there in the low post during the second half. He was getting some good one-on-ones and we did a nice job giving him the ball,” said Seneca head basketball coach Doug Evans. “Overall we shot the ball very well and played some great team defense tonight. That’s what you need to do to be successful competing in the sectional playoffs.”

  Amboy (20-8) was led in scoring by senior Garrett Zinke with 11 points.

  Seneca (28-2) now moves on to Friday nights Sectional championship game versus Putnam County (28-3) who were a 46-36 winner against Serena in Tuesday nights first sectional semifinal at Plano.

  Last season the Irish defeated the Panthers in the sectionals at Bureau Valley on the way to the state title. Putnam County boasts 6’8” senior all stater Carlton Fay who netted 24 points against the Huskers on Tuesday. Anyway you slice it, it should be an epic battle on Friday as two of Illinois Class A elite teams will do battle.

  “Putnam County has a great squad. There’s not too many Class A schools that have what they have up front with such tall kids,” Evans said. “They’re a quality team with a first team all stater and great kids around him. We know we’ll probably be the underdogs. We’re just looking forward to seeing what we can do.”