Junior High Boys Open With Win
The junior high boys opened their 2016 basketball season with a win over Cheylin on Monday, October 31. The Indians took control from the start and rolled to a 44-23 win over the Cheylin Cougars. There was no B-team game played due to Cheylin only having 11 players on their roster. The contest was played in the Cheylin High School Gymnasium in McDonald.
Colton Neitzel opened the contest scoring on a nice post move on the first possession of the game. The Indians forced a turnover on the Cougar's opening possession and quickly turned the steal into a layup by Adam Krien. The margin grew to 8-0 after an offensive rebound basket by Jesse Baxter and a sweet drive-and-dish by Neitzel that resulted in another Krien basket. With only 1:20 gone in the game, Cheylin called their first time-out. After returning to the floor, the Cougars scored on a left wing trey by Dylan Ketzner. The Indians answered on an out-of-bounds play basket by Neitzel (assist Baxter), a drive by Krien, and a steal-assist by Kobe Tice that lead to a layup by Shadryon Blanka. The outburst gave the Indians a 14-3 advantage midway through the first period. The Indians led 16-7 after one quarter of play.
The second period began with a six-point Indian run. Garin Cooper's assist to Jesse Baxter in the post accounted for the first of three consecutive Indian baskets. Baxter then scored on an offensive rebound and out-of-bounds play (assist Adam Krien) increasing the margin to 22-7. With many Indians seeing playing time the scoring slowed a bit, but St. Francis earned a drive by Kobe Tice, a free throw by Shadryon Blanka, a drive by Krien, and a coast-to-coast layup by Blanka to close out the second period. St. Francis led 30-12 at halftime.
The Indians scored the first 10 points of the 3rd period widening the margin to 40-12. Jesse Baxter scored three consecutive buckets, a steal-two and two post baskets, with the second two coming on assists by Shadryon Blanka. Blanka then scored on a two fast-breaks, one on an assist from Baxter. Cheylin's Colton McCarty scored late in the period for the Cougars bringing the score to 40-14 at the 3rd-quarter break.
The young Indians received most of the 4th quarter playing time and performed well. Colton Neitzel opened the final stanza with a jumper from the right elbow. The only other St. Francis basket scored in the final period came on a Blanka assist on a Krien drive. St. Francis defeated Cheylin 44-23 in their opening game of the season.
The Indians will play Wallace County in Sharon Springs on Thursday, November 3rd.
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