Andover Central boys hand Maize South its first loss

Through the first four minutes of the third quarter Tuesday night, it was the Darraja Parnell-Payten Ricks show. Two outstanding athletes going head-to-head on both sides of the ball.

Parnell, an Andover Central senior, converted a three-point play in the first 30 seconds of the period. Twelve seconds later, Ricks, a Maize South senior, hit a three.

Parnell went baseline and dunked, then scored inside. Ricks hit a three. Parnell split a trap on the baseline and scored, while Ricks hit another three.

But it was Parnell, who had 26 points, who led Andover Central to a 73-58 win at Maize South. Parnell had 10 rebounds and made 11 of 13 shots.

Ricks had 36 points, hitting 6 of 10 three-pointers — 10 of 17 field goals — and 10 of 13 free throws. Ricks scored 30 points in the second half and had 28 of Maize South’s first 35 second-half points. Maize South is 4-1.

“We’ve been friends since fourth grade,” Parnell said of Ricks. “… It’s always fun (playing him). I would have to say this one was more fun than the past ones. We’re more developed now, so it’s easier to create our shots and score on each other.”

But Parnell must involve his teammates to win.

“If they’re focused on you, I’ve learned over the years, someone’s got to be open,” Parnell said.

Andover Central’s Cole Taylor had 11 points, hitting three three-pointers. Eyan Curtis hit two threes, and Bryce Bezdek was 5 of 5 from the floor, including 3 of 3 from three.

“The biggest change offensively is that Darraja’s starting to get his teammates involved, started to figure out when guys are doubling on the block or when they’re helping in,” said Andover Central coach Jesse Herrmann, whose team is 4-2. “When he needs to look up, and when he needs to take it.”

Eight Andover Central players scored, with Bezdek coming off the bench for 13.

The Jaguars shot 29 of 44 from the field and were 10 of 18 from the perimeter, while also outrebounding Maize South 28-18.

“We got a few shots, limited them to one shot, got the rebound, got out and ran,” Taylor said. “That’s what we want to do. That’s how we get an advantage on teams.”

Maize South trailed by 13 at the half, largely because it shot 6 of 22 from the field and 2 of 14 from three. The Mavericks finished 18 of 44 from the field, 9 of 26 from three.

“When you’re shooting that poorly for a team that counts on the three ball, you’re not going to be in many ballgames,” Maize South coach Kip Schultz said. “Especially when you’re having trouble getting shots on the other end.”

Ricks’ hot-shooting third quarter — he made 4 of 5 threes — got the Mavericks within 12 heading into the final period.

“Payten was unbelievable, getting to the paint, creating for his teammates,” Herrmann said. “Late he started to take over. Luckily we had gotten a big enough buffer to kind of hold that off. He’s a great player.

“Darraja’s a great player, and we have some other good kids. We were able to make threes, and Darraja was able to get to the rim. Jordan (Birch) was able to get to the rim.”

Andover Central only missed two shots in the fourth period.

This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 11:14 PM with the headline "Andover Central boys hand Maize South its first loss."