Jr. High Boys Outrun Wildcats
The junior high boys basketball teams defeated the Wallace County Wildcats on Thursday afternoon, November 3, in Sharon Springs. The A-Team Indians cruised to a 61-20 win. The B-Team boys earned a 21-6 victory.
In A-Team action, the Indians jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead using an efficient transition game and good defensive pressure to earn easy baskets. Jesse Baxter opened the game with three quick scores, two on offensive rebounds in transition and a steal-two. With less than a minute gone in the contest, Wallace County called time-out to regroup. Adam Krien and Kobe Tice each earned steal-twos to move the margin to 10 points before Wallace County (WC) opened with a left wing jumper. After an exchange of hoops, the Indians earned an eight-point run extending the lead to 20-4. In the run, Shadryon Blanka scored three consecutive baskets on assists from Tice and Colton Neitzel, and then earned a steal-two. It was very obvious, that the Indians size, skill, and defensive pressure were going to be difficult for the Wildcats to keep pace with. With most of the Indians suited entering the game in the first period, the Indians led 24-9 after one period of play.
Wallace County opened the second period with a mid-post score by David Korbe. The Indians then scored 14 unanswered points. Colton Neitzel's assist set up another basket by Jesse Baxter from the block. Neitzel then scored on an assist from Shadryon Blanka. Blanka scored the next three baskets also; a steal-two, a post basket (assist Garin Cooper), and an out-of-bounds play lob from Ben Busse. After a Neitzel score from the right wing, Preston Witzel scored from the right wing in transition off another Busse assist. St. Francis led 38-12 at halftime.
The Indians backed off the defensive pressure in the second half, and the game slowed down to a pace more favorable to the Wildcats. Though the Wildcats did not score in the third period, the Indians added 10 more to their side of the scoreboard. Kobe Tice's assist set up the first score of the period, a post move by Jesse Baxter. Colton Neitzel swished a shot from the right baseline and then recorded an assist on another Baxter score. Baxter's last basket of the game came on an assist by Adam Krien. Preston Witzel made the final basket of the quarter after receiving an assist from Shadryon Blanka.
The Indians cruised to a 61-20 victory with everyone suited contributing to the win. Sixth graders Ben Busse and Preston Witzel each scored two baskets in the final period while Shadryon Blanka and Garin Cooper each added one.
The junior high boys will play Greeley County in St. Francis, on Tuesday, November 8.
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