Indians Defeat Good DCS Team
JV Team Defeated
The Indian boys basketball teams split their games with Dundy County - Stratton (DCS) on Friday, December 16. The junior varsity team lost to DCS by a lop-sided score of 19-51. The varsity boys won their contest 56-43.
The Dundy County - Stratton Tigers jumped all over the junior varsity Indians earning a 10 point 1st quarter lead and stretching it throughout the game. DCS scored three quick baskets from the post to lead 1-6. After an additional free-throw by K.C. Krien, the Indian turnovers continued to mount. Several of the turnovers resulted in quick transition baskets for the Tigers. With approximately two minutes left in the first period, the deficit had risen to 2-13. Late in the quarter, Krien scored in the lane and DCS added a free-throw. The Indians trailed 4-14 after one period of play.
DCS scored the first 9 points of the second period increasing the margin to 4-23. Tayton Weeter scored on a fast-break earning the first Indian points in several minutes. Moments later, Weeter scored on a left corner trey after an assist by Connor Keller (9-23). The Indians would not score again in the period, while the Tigers continued to add to their side of the scoreboard. St. Francis trailed 9-30 at halftime.
In the third period, the Indians played a bit better with improved ball control. The Indians scored 6 points while allowing 7. After a DCS left wing score and free-throw, Draven Houtman scored on a nice post move. Tayton Weeter followed with a trey from the top-of-the-key. The Tigers answered with consecutive baskets by Micheal Fredericks (post and steal-two). The final score of the period came on an offensive rebound and assist by Jordan Raby leading to another Krien score. St. Francis trailed 15-37 after three quarters.
St. Francis scored the first two baskets of the final period. Bryce Raby and Tayton Weeter each scored on driving baskets. The back-to-back scores trimmed the lead inside 20 point points (19-37). Unfortunately, the Indians would not score again. With all Indians receiving playing time, the Tigers scored 14 unanswered points to close the contest. The Indians lost 19-51.
The varsity contest pitted two good teams against each other. DCS came into the contest with a 6-1 record while the Indians were 5-0. The game opened with a technical foul due to two DCS players dunking in warmup. Tate Busse sank the two technical free-throws, and then Brock Waters completed the ensuing possession with a driving score. The Indians led 4-0 before the Tigers had a possession. The Tigers answered with a stick-back basket on their opening possession. With both teams playing aggressive defense, baskets were hard to come by, and both teams struggled to single-digit outputs in the first period. Guillermo Diaz (5' 5" Jr.) tied the contest at 4-all on a coast-to-coast drive just past mid-way through the quarter. Indian baskets by Taylor Rogers and Jeremiah Neitzel (post) closed the first quarter scoring. Neither team scored in the final 110 seconds of the period. The Indians moved into the bonus with 49 seconds left in the period and led 8-4 at the close of the period.
The Indians' offense began to click much better in the second period, and the game was essentially won the the second period. The Indians outscored the Tigers 18-6 during the period while frustrating them defensively. The Tigers opened the period with a left wing trey, but Tate Busse answered with a top-of-the-key trey on the next Indian possession. Brady Dinkel's score on an offensive rebound after a missed lay-up placed the Indians at a 13-7 advantage. After a DCS score from the post, the Indians exploded for eleven unanswered points. All of the points were scored by Tate Busse (two free-throws and three deep treys). After a DCS free-throw, Busse's assist set up a buzzer-beater by Brock Waters. The Indians had opened some breathing room on a good DCS team. The teams headed to their locker rooms with the Indians leading 26-10.
Though the Tigers out-scored the Indians in the second half, the halftime margin was enough for the Indians to win the contest. DCS opened the second half scoring the first four points. The Indians then scored ten unanswered points. The Indian outburst was completed by an offensive rebound basket by Jeremiah Neitzel, an assist by Brock Waters to Tate Busse on a break, and a left wing trey by Waters. The Tigers then scored five consecutive points ending with a baseline shot by Phalen Sanford (5' 11" Jr.). Busse then added another trey using a high screen by Neitzel. After an offensive rebound basket by the Tigers, Neitzel's assist led to a baseline score by Dalton Straub. The quarter closed after a left corner trey by DCS's Nathan Auffet (5' 10" Jr.). St. Francis led 41-24.
Noah Kerchal (6' 3" Sr.) scored the opening basket of the fourth quarter for the Tigers on a shot in the lane. Taylor Rogers scored a driving basket to answer. Brayden Baney (5' 10" Sr.) followed with a baseline shot. Brady Dinkel's sweet assist to Brock Waters on a cut through the lane preceded an offensive rebound score (plus one) by Kerchal moving the scoreboard to 45-31 with 5:31 left in the game. It was obvious the Tigers still had some bite left. A driving basket by Tate Busse and a jumper in the lane by Rogers triggered a DCS time-out at 4:49. After the time out, Jacob Gemborys (6' 3" So.) scored on a stick-back basket, the Indians answered with a trey, Kerchal scored on a strong post-move, and the Tiger's earned a basket in the lane. DCS used another time-out at 1:47 trailing 52-37. On the next Indian possession, Taylor Rogers scored on a strong baseline drive. At 1:02 DCS scored on a fast-break basket. The Indians answered with a baseline drive by Brock Waters (assist Busse). The Tigers closed the game with a deep trey by Auffet. St. Francis defeated a very good DCS Tiger team 56-43.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Tate Busse with 26 points (5 treys, 14 pts in 2nd qtr.). Brock Waters added 14 to the Indian point total. Others scoring for the Indians included Taylor Rogers 6, Brady Dinkel 4, Jeremiah Neitzel, 4, and Dalton Straub 2. The Indians made 5 of 10 from the stripe in the contest.
Dundy County - Stratton was led in scoring by Noah Kerchal and Phalen Sanford each with 9 points. Three other Tigers had 6 each. The Tigers connected on 4 of 11 from the line.
The Indians will play Bethune, Colorado, on Tuesday, December 20, in St. Francis. Bethune enters the game with a 2-2 record recording wins over Hanover and Deer Trail. Their losses were to Eads and Pikes Peak Christian.
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