Rebounding helps St. Elmo/Brownstown to victory vs. Cowden-Herrick

ST. ELMO – After watching the program’s all-time rebounding leader close his career last season, that area became an immediate concern for St. Elmo/Brownstown.

On Tuesday at least, the issue was under control.

The Eagles grabbed 42 rebounds against dual-conference rival Cowden-Herrick, allowing the Hornets just three offensive boards in the first three quarters of a 67-45 victory.

“It has to be a point of emphasis for us, because we aren’t that big,” said coach Greg Feezel. “We have some height on the bench, but those guys are so young and raw.”

No starter stands taller than 6-foot-1, a big change from the past four seasons when 6-foot-4 Connor Beasley stood tall in the post to grab 875 rebounds.

Instead, it is 6-foot senior Levi Maxey who has shown the most consistency on the boards, grabbing six in the first two games and hauling in 31 over the past two contests.

“Before the year, I said, ‘Someone better step up and take over where Connor Beasley took off,’” Feezel said. “Connor did his thing every night, and you have to rebound in high school basketball.”

Teams have to score, too, and the Eagles did plenty of that Tuesday night to pick up a victory in the Egyptian-Illini and National Trail Conference standings.

Senior Jacob Behrends fell just short of his career-high with 30 points, Maxey added 19 and sophomore Malachi Maxey matched his career-high with 13 points to help SEB maintain a wide margin for the entire game.

Behrends posted half of his points on five 3-pointers, helping him nearly double his previous season-high output.

“Jacob was on time with a lot of things,” Feezel said. “I told him before the game to be ready to shoot it, and he really took that to heart.

“We ran a few sets for him tonight, and he found good spots by making good cuts,” he said. “He was seeing the floor pretty well tonight.”

Levi Maxey  – who had 13 points and nine rebounds in the first half – recorded his second straight double-double, by adding 13 rebounds, and his six assists and five steals gave him one of the most balanced games of his career.

He made six field goals and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.

The Eagles (3-1, 3-0 NTC, 1-0 EIC) were 14-of-19 from the charity stripe, and made nine 3-pointers, which Feezel attributed to having the “hot hand.”

“Most of the shots we took from out there were in rhythm, and if they do that, I can’t complain,” Feezel said, even though the team missed another 14 long-range shots.

For Cowden-Herrick, Colton Burrus led with 15 points, as the Hornets struggled to keep pace with the Eagles, making just 14 of 40 shots. SEB made 21 of its 61 shots.

The Eagles host NTC rival St. Anthony on Friday before going into next week’s St. Elmo Holiday Tournament as the No. 2 seed.

Finding success in those games, Feezel said, will come from a more consistent defensive effort than he has seen in the first four games.

“This team better get better defensively,” he said. “We have it in us, it’s just a matter of dragging it out every night.”

Tuesday, Dec. 10
SEB 67
Cowden-Herrick 45
C: 6-11-17-11—45
S: 13-18-18-18—67
Points: Behrends, 30; L. Maxey, 19; M. Maxey, 13; Curt Frailey, 4; Kyle Hardimon, 1.
Rebounds: L. Maxey, 13; Cole Smithson, 9; Behrends, 6; M. Maxey, 4; Landon Feezel, 3; Nick Bauer, 2; Eric Neeley, 2; Noah Flowers, 1; Fraiey, 1; Hardimon, 1; Team, 1.
Assists: L. Maxey, 6; Behrends, 3; M. Maxey, 2; Bauer, 1; Feezel, 1; Frailey, 1.
Steals: L. Maxey, 5; M. Maxey, 3; Smithson, 2; Behrends, 1; Frailey, 1; Neeley, 1.
Record: 3-1 (3-0 NTC, 1-0 EIC)

***

Levi Maxey scored 20 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, Jacob Behrends added 15 points and the Eagles overcame a slow start to pick up their second National Trail Conference win of the season.

Neoga led St. Elmo/Brownstown by six after the first quarter of last Friday’s game, but a 16-2 run over the next eight minutes allowed the Eagles to grab the lead and eventually take the game, 45-40.

Freshman Landon Feezel scored his first two career points for SEB (2-1, 2-0 NTC).

Friday, Dec. 6
SEB 45
Neoga 40
N: 12-2-18-8—40
S: 6-16-12-11—45
Points: L. Maxey, 20; Behrends, 15; Malachi Maxey, 4; Nick Bauer, 2; Feezel, 2; Curt Frailey, 2.
Record: 2-1 (2-0 NTC)