Raiders boys basketball tipped off their season at home against the St. Thomas Aquinas Saints on Tuesday, December 10. Raiders came into this game ranked 6th in 6a and Aquinas ranked 7th in 5a according to Sports in Kansas. This game lived up to the hype as it was tightly contested all four quarters.
The Saints won the tip and the 24-25 season began. Sophomore Conor Kerrigan and Junior Captain Drake DeBaun both had early fouls as the officials were calling a very tight game. The first quarter was very back and forth ending with both teams deadlocked at 11. There were a lot of turnovers and both teams were having trouble finding open shots.
The Saints carried some momentum into the second quarter that didn’t last long as the Raiders went on an 8-2 run before the Saints called a timeout. Debaun quickly got his second foul and went to the bench.
“I just saw my matchup, really, and I just called for the ball, and I know that no one can guard me in the post,” Kerrigan said.
Kerrigan carried much of the scoring in the second quarter, getting lots of easy shots and proving to be too much for his defenders. Going into halftime, the Raiders were up 29-20.
After halftime, Kerrigan and junior Ben Allen picked up two quick fouls but Aquinas couldn’t convert on those early fouls as they turned the ball over on consecutive possessions. Debaun got into foul trouble and had to be taken out after getting his third foul as well as Senior Captain Jadon Sautter getting his third foul leading to a Raider timeout. Going into the fourth quarter the Raiders were up 43-29 on the Saints.
Very quickly in the fourth quarter, Debaun picked up his fourth foul and got taken out, but the Raiders held strong and ended up winning 60-51 led by Kerrigan scoring 26 points and Sautter with 11.
“We knew going in that they had this one really good guard named London Burton,” Kerrigan said. “He plays really good. They hit a couple threes in a row, but we really guarded and stopped the momentum right away.”
The Raiders will play Olathe West at SM South on Friday, December 13.
![Top of the pyramid, junior Elizabeth Petersma practices stunts with juniors Jordyn Sautter [left] and Peyton Jacobson [right] at the cheer and pace showcase at Shawnee Mission South on 11/15 in preparation for the state competition.](https://smsouthnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TZoBeunhYICKamC5mDsq6nfIQ1uSrawnOnJqhAUO-905x1200.jpg)
