Reeves advances to quarterfinals
Published 9:00 am Tuesday, February 21, 2023
- The Raiders’ Faith Cauthron drives to the basket for a layup against Bell City during a regional playoff game Monday night at Reeves High School. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
REEVES — After splitting a pair of regular-season games, No. 5 Reeves knew it wouldn’t be easy Monday in its Division V non-select regional game against No. 12 Bell City.
After giving up an early seven-point lead, Reeves settled in and claimed a 51-36 win to advance to the quarterfinals for a seventh consecutive season.
“We knew it was going to be a four-quarter game,” Reeves head coach Mark Dronet said. “Bell City had already beaten us. We split with them this year, and they beat Hathaway, and that certainly caught our attention. And they played (Hathaway) close the other two times.
“With Class B and C together, every game is a war. We knew it was going to be a four-quarter game, but we have a veteran team.”
Reeves will travel to play No. 4 Midland (27-10), a 59-54 winner over No. 19 Pitkin (25-17) on Monday.
Two of the Raiders’ seniors had big nights, guard Kyndal Gill and forward Faith Cauthron. Gill scored all 12 of her points on 3-pointers as the Bruins tried to focus on Cauthron and Maddi Ford.
“The scouting report is not to guard Kendal and try to stop Maddi and Faith,” Dronet said. “Kendal has been putting in a lot of extra work lately, staying extra and shooting shots. She is starting to believe in herself. She has been a great teammate all these years. Now is her time and she stepped up.”
She hit one of her 3s right after the Bruins cut the Raiders’ lead to 21-18 on a 3-pointer by Peyton Herpin with 52 seconds left in the first half.
Cauthron patrolled the lane, recording an 18-point, 16-rebound double-double. Reeves outrebounded Bell City 37-20.
“She is incredible,” Dronet said of Cauthron. “She is a warrior. Nobody ever outrebounds her or out-toughs her. She must eat nails for breakfast. She has an extremely high basketball IQ, so she anticipates well and combines that with an unbelievable desire to get the ball.”
After falling behind early, Bell City went on an 11-2 run to close out the first quarter to take a 13-11 lead on a 3 by Herpin, who finished 16 points. Braylee Brabham added 11 points for the Bruins (20-10).
Reeves bounced back with an 8-1 run to open the second quarter, taking the lead for good on a 3 by Lailah Williams.
