By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
It wasn’t quite a storybook finish for Kyle Pock and Bolivar on Friday, as the Liberators’ ball-handling let them down in a 66-56 loss to Cardinal Ritter in the Class 5 state championship game.
But for Pock, leading Bolivar to its second state title tilt only added to what has been a storybook five years with the Liberators.
Pock, a sophomore, transferred from Ozark to Bolivar in the sixth grade and has never looked back. Pock’s family moved to Bolivar when his Dad was hired by Citizens Memorial Hospital and his Mom got a job at the school.
“I was amazed as soon as I got to Bolivar,” Pock said. “I went to a basketball camp and felt at home right then. The community is awesome. It’s nothing like any other place.
I think we’ve got the best head coach you could ask for, he added. “I love coach (Robby) Hoegh. I wouldn’t choose to play for anyone else. He loves every single one of us deeply and we love him, too.”
Even in defeat, there was a lot to like about Bolivar’s effort. The Liberators outshot and outrebounded Cardinal Ritter.
Bolivar (16-12) shot 49 percent from the field and won the battle of the boards 32-27.
Late in the third quarter while trailing 50-39, Bolivar was shooting 55 percent.
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But the most telling stat was the Liberators’ 15 turnovers. In comparison, Cardinal Ritter gave the ball away only five times.
Most of Bolivar’s turnovers turned into layups for the Lions.
“They were a high-pressured team. That was the style they like to play,” Pock said. “I thought for the most part we handled their pressure well. But we had a little run where we got sped up and didn’t do what we wanted.
“We struggled with turnovers during the season. We cleaned that up during the post-season,” he added. “But we had more turnovers in this game than we had in past games and that hurt us.”
They’re an athletic team, forward Josh Bowes said. “They kept getting those quick steals. They’re hard to play against. Helias was pretty athletic. But honestly, we haven’t seen a team as athletic as (Ritter).”
Cardinal Ritter (19-5) received 22 points from freshman forward Mario Fleming. He made 4-of-8 3-pointers. The Lions hit 16-of-19 free throws.
Pock topped everyone with 30 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two steals. He was 12-of-22 from the field.
“(Strafford coach) Tyler Ryerson says, ‘Kyle can go nuclear,’” Hoegh said. “There aren’t many guys who can go nuclear and Kyle hit the red button today and kept us in it.”
Pock was already at 24 points as Bolivar proved it belonged and pulled to within one of Ritter, 40-39, in the third quarter. The Liberators’ half-court offense was rolling at that juncture.
“Before the game, we thought if we could get it to the front-court, we’d run our stuff and be just fine,” Pock said. “We just had to get it to the front court.”
“One of the improvements we’ve made is working our half-court offense, getting the ball inside and looking for the best shot we possibly can,” said Bowes, who had 14 points. “It showed in our shooting percentage.”
Ritter gained separation, thanks to a 10-0 run in the final minutes of the third quarter. The Lions’ biggest lead was 14 points.
Down the stretch, the Liberators could get no closer than eight points.
“We just couldn’t quite sustain (momentum),” Hoegh said. “We needed to be about six points down going into the fourth quarter.”
Pock shook off an ankle injury that had him face-down on the floor at half-court briefly in the fourth quarter. He played all 32 minutes.
“I rolled my ankle and had a little shock,” said Pock, who has had lingering issues with his left ankle since the eighth grade. “But it was the last game of the year, I knew I could play through it. I’m trying not to (limp) now.”
“I knew he was going to get up,” Bowes said. “He’s a fighter. He wants to win more than anyone out there.”
Bowes feels the best is yet to come for Pock.
“The way we play, I think it’s hard for him to show what he’s capable of,” Bowes said. “The man can really play. Next year, we’re going to figure some things out and he’s going to really shine as a player.”
Bolivar will welcome back four starters from this season’s team.
“It’s disappointing to lose this game, but then again we made it to State and no one picked us to go this far,” Pock said. “We’re ready to come back and we should do well next year, as well. We need to sharpen up our (ball-handling), with turnovers hurting us today and the continuity of our offense. I think our defense has been spectacular.
“I’m going to remember how much fun we had on this team,” he added. “There’s not going to be another team like this. We enjoyed every single moment of the season.”
