By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
FORSYTH — A.K. Rael’s Most Valuable Player award at the 60th Annual Forsyth Tournament culminated his breakout week that Strafford senior Vance Mullins saw coming several years back.
“Since he was in middle school, we knew he was going to be really good,” Mullins said of the Indians’ super sophomore swingman. “He was always one of those kids who was the first one in (the gym) and the last one to leave. He works so hard. He puts a lot of time and effort into it.”
Rael responded to finals night with a 17-point effort in Strafford’s 45-37 victory over Hollister in Saturday’s championship game. He hit a trio of 3-pointers in his 12-point first half and finished with four treys.
Rael also introduced himself during the tourney with a 22-point outing versus Carl Junction. By the way, A.K. stands for Aston Kyle.
“Starting out tonight, I was playing soft,” Rael said. “Coach (Tyler) Ryerson yelled at me, ‘Are you going to get us going?’ I had to step up. I started shooting and they started falling.”
Rael helped Strafford withstand Hollister junior forward Josh Barlow’s 13-point first half. The Indians led 24-21 at halftime.
Barlow is also enjoying a breakout start to this season. Entering Saturday’s action, he already had scored 100 points in Hollister’s first four games.
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Strafford held Barlow to two points in the second half, with Rael playing a pivotal part in the Indians’ rotating defenses on him.
“We mixed it up with 2-3, 1-3-1 and matchup (zones) and man-to-man,” Ryerson said. “We tried to keep them off balance by mixing it up. When we went man, A.K. had Barlow and every time we went to zone, we tried to get A.K. to the wing on Barlow’s side. He did a nice job on Barlow, who has been rolling. We put so much on A.K. as a sophomore, but he has taken it all in stride.”
“They did a good job on (Barlow),” Hollister coach Pete Leonard said. “They were athletic and didn’t allow him to get much open space.”
The Tigers managed just 16 points in the second half.
“Some of our shots didn’t fall that we are used to falling,” Leonard said. “I think it kind of dwindled down to that.”
Seth Soden scored eight of his nine points in the second half to help Strafford jump on top 39-30. It continued a week-long trend for the junior forward in which he bounced back from a sluggish first half with a strong second half.
“This tournament, I started out slow,” Soden said. “But my coach is always telling me to keep shooting, no matter what is happening.”
With Hollister rallying and having cut Strafford’s lead to 41-37, Indians center Teagan Lawler drew a charge on the Tigers’ Cole Jones. Jones’ layup was waved off on the play.
The Indians felt it was as big a play as any all night.
“He drew that charge in the clutch, right when we needed it the most,” Mullins said.
“Both of his older brothers were in this program and they are the most hard-working kids I’ve ever been around,” Ryerson said. “Teagan could care less if he gets accolades or scores a point.”
Rael was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Mullins and Soden. For Hollister, Barlow and Jones were named All-Tournament.
Strafford won with a starting five of one senior, three juniors and a sophomore.
“With this group, we’re so young and the future is bright,” Rael said. “We’re going to have fun the next couple of years.”
“I’ve taken a lot of these guys under my wing,” said Mullins, one of only two Indians seniors. “I’m glad they listen to me. I take criticism from them and they take it from me. We have each other’s backs all the time. We’ve had no problems. I love the way it’s all coming together.”
Strafford 45, Hollister 37
HOLLISTER (37) — Barlow 6 2-2 15, Snyder 2 1-2 6, Jones 4 3-3 12, Peterson 2 0-0 4. Totals 14 6-7 37.
STRAFFORD (45) — Mullins 4 0-1 8, Rael 5 3-3 17, Fraker 2 0-0 5, Hunt 1 0-0 2, Soden 2 3-4 9, Lawler 2 0-0 4. Totals 16 6-8 45.
Hollister 13 8 7 9 – 37
Strafford 13 11 8 13 – 45
3-point goals – Rael 4, Soden 2, Fraker, Barlow, Snyder, Jones.
