Boys Lose Championship Game to Logan
Finish 2nd in Sagebrush Classic
The Indians played well, but lost the championship game of the Sagebrush Classic Tournament to Logan on Saturday evening, December 13. The Indians had two nice 7-point runs, one in each half, but the Logan Trojans also had scoring runs of their own. The Trojans 11-point first half and 8-point second half runs were just enough to give the Trojans a 62-56 championship win. The game was highly contested with both teams playing very aggressively, and the lead changed hands four times in the first half. The Indians were within two points with 32 seconds to play, but the Trojans made six consecutive free throws in the last minute to seal the three-point win.
Logan scored the first two baskets of the game; a post-move and a basket after a St. Francis turnover. Tate Busse put the Indians on the board with a trey. With 5:08 left in the first quarter, Logan's point guard, Reuben Harmon, left the game after suffering an injury and did not return. St. Francis took the their first lead (6-3) after a Cade Bracelin trey from the right corner (assist Busse). A free-throw, post-move basket, and a left wing trey put the Trojans back in front 10-6. The Indians followed with baskets by Bracelin (offensive rebound), Taylor Rogers (jumper in the lane), and Quinton Cravens (assist Busse) to lead 12-10 after one quarter.
The Indian run extended into the second period when Tate Busse nailed a trey from the top-of-the-key (15-10). After two buckets by Logan, Busse drained another trey from the same location. Taylor Rogers' left wing trey, at 5:03, extended the St. Francis lead to 21-14 and triggered a Logan time-out. The time-out seemed to recharge the Trojans. Scoring on two post-moves and two drives into the lane, the Trojans took the lead 21-22 with 1:22 left in the first half. At 35.2, the Trojans took the ball out-of-bounds on the side near mid-court. A long pass and drive caught the Indians unprepared to defend, and the Indians fell further behind after a St. Francis foul on the ensuing lay-up. The Trojans had clicked off eleven straight points to take the lead 25-21. St. Francis scored in the closing moments of the half on a post-move by Jon Hoard after an assist by Carl Fabre. The Trojans quickly scored again in the final seconds, and the Indians trailed at halftime, 27-23.
In the third quarter, the Indians pulled within one point (28-29) after baskets by Quinton Cravens (assist Taylor Rogers) and a Cravens steal-two. Logan then scored three consecutive baskets on an offensive rebound and two post-moves. With 4:55 left in the third, the Indians trailed 28-35. A Rogers' jumper and post-move score (plus one) by Jeremiah Neitzel (assist Cade Bracelin) narrowed the gap to 33-37 with approximately three minutes left in the period. Logan then recorded their second largest run of the game, eight points, to lead 33-45 with 1:00 left. Cravens' assist on a Bracelin trey from the left wing closed the third period. The Indians trailed 36-45.
With just over five minutes left in the contest, Logan led 43-54. The Indians had traded an offensive rebound basket by Jude Faulkender, two free-throws by Jeremiah Neitzel, and a trey from Tate Busse for two offensive rebound baskets, a post-move score, and a trey by the Trojans. The Indians were about to make a move. A three-ball by Faulkender from the right wing and a drawn charge, also by Faulkender, seemed to sway the momentum in favor of the Indians. Faulkender then scored on an offensive rebound, and Taylor Rogers followed with a steal-two at 3:08. Logan had had enough, and asked for another time-out. Cade Bracelin made a nice block on what looked to be a sure score by Logan after the time-out, but the Trojans eventually scored again on two free-throws, with 2:41, left to move the score to 56-50. At 2:17, Busse's three-ball pulled the Indians within three (53-56). At 1:16, the Indians committed a foul; the Trojans made both shots. The Indians' scrambling defense earned a jump ball at 49.6, but the possession arrow favored the Trojans. With 32.5 seconds left, Taylor Rogers earned a steal-two (plus one) to bring the score to 56-58. Another St. Francis foul at 23.4 was followed by two more swished free-throws by the Trojans. The Indians got a good look on a trey attempt, but the shot caromed out, and the Indians fouled again. Logan made 2 of 2 to seal a 56-62 win.
Logan had two players in double figures: Josh Van Laeys 19 (6' 2" So.) and Regan Kats 18 (6' 3" jr.). Scoring for St. Francis were: Tate Busse 16, Taylor Rogers 12, Cade Bracelin 8, Jude Faulkender 7, Quinton Cravens 6, Jeremiah Neitzel 5, and Jon Hoard 2. The Indians were efficient from the line, making 5 of 6. Logan attempted 21 free-throws in the contest and made 13.
Coach Beims had the following comments on the game, "Our defense came together nicely over the weekend at the Sagebrush tournament. We played well again against Logan, although we allowed a few too many offensive rebounds for our liking, and were out of position down low at times against a bigger team. Overall, though I can’t complain about our defensive effort. Logan was pretty good at handling our pressure and scored when they had the chance. I think fatigue may have played a role in our defeat in the championship game, but we also have to get better about taking good shots, and making those shots. Our hats off to a good Logan team. They deserved to win a hard fought game. I like the way our boys find a way to make a run late when they are down. That will pay off down the line."
Jude Faulkender placed second in the three-point contest with 12 treys in one minute. Cade Bracelin and Taylor Rogers were selected to the All-Tournament team along with: Colton Berg - Heartland Christian (5' 10" Sr.), Taylor Stramel - Triplains-Brewster (6' 2" Jr.), and Edgar Valenzuela - Weskan (6' 0" Sr.).
The Indians will play Dundy County - Stratton, in St. Francis, on Friday, December 19.
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