Indians Pummel the Bobcats
The Bethune Bobcats came to St. Francis on Tuesday, December 20, to compete in high school basketball, and left town with two lop-sided losses. The junior varsity boys defeated the Bobcats 50-27. The varsity Indians smacked the Bobcats 72-24.
The evening opened with the junior varsity boys game. The game proved to be a total mismatch from the outset as the Indians jumped out to a large lead and held the Bobcats nearly scoreless for most of the three quarter contest. The game opened with treys by Tayton Weeter and Conner Keller giving the Indians a 6-0 lead after two possessions. Bethune answered with a deuce, but Keller drained another left-wing trey (assist Jordan Raby) extending the lead to 9-2. The Indians' defense illuminated issues with the Bobcats ball-handing skills, and as the Bobcat turnovers continued to mount, so did the Indians' score. The Indians received scores by Weeter, Keller, Raby, and Bryce Raby throughout the quarter. With everyone suited seeing action in the first period, the Indians led 26-2. Since the game was shortened to three quarters, the teams took their halftime break after 8 minutes of action.
The Indians resumed where they had left off. Draven Houtman opened the second half with a post-move basket. After an assist by Tayton Weeter, Houtman scored again from the post. Jordan Raby followed with a driving basket and then Weeter nailed a trey from the left corner. Meanwhile, the Bobcats were either missing shots or losing possession of the basketball. The next Indian score came on an out-of-bounds-play assist from Weeter to Keller resulting in another trey. Isaiah Lee continued with a nice drive in the lane. After a driving basket and a steal-two by Keller, the Indians led 44-2. With 1:07 left in the period, the Bobcats scored their second basket of game. The Bobcats scored three consecutive baskets before Lee ended the period with a offensive rebound score. With all the Indians playing, the Indians led 46-8 with one period to play.
The final quarter was played with a running clock. Wyatt Hilt scored the final basket for the Indians making the final score 50-27.
The varsity game was much the same. The Bobcats provided little resistance for the Indians even though the Indians played the game a bit short-handed (Dylan Straub missed the game due to illness and Quinton Cravens still has not seen action due to football injuries). Tate Busse opened the game with a quick drive to the hoop. Jeremiah Neitzel scored on a post assist by Brock Waters. Busse's out-of-bounds-play assist to Waters resulted in another three-ball. Waters followed with a shot in the lane. Taylor Rogers' assist found Busse for another trey from the corner giving the Indians a 12-0 lead with only 2.5 minutes gone in the game. With 5:15 on the clock, the Bobcats' Micheal Herrera (Jr.) banked a shot off the glass for Bethune's first score. The Indians would score twice more before Bethune called their first time-out; on a cut by Waters through the lane (assist Rogers) and shot by Busse (assist Neitzel). The Indians led 18-2 with 3:51 left in the first period. After the time-out the Bobcats scored again at 2:40. The Bobcats then sandwiched a turnover-two between two more Neitzel assists; both ending in baskets by Brady Dinkel. Busse's steal-two completed the first quarter scoring. The Indians led 24-6.
With replacement players playing much of the second period, the Indians continued to stretch the margin. Brady Dinkel scored the first three points of the second period (free-throw and fast-break (assist Tate Busse)). Busse's next assist found Brock Waters open in the right corner for another trey. After two Busse steal-twos, Jordan Raby's assist setup a post basket by Draven Houtman. Houtman scored again from the short-corner on an assist by Tayton Weeter. By now, the Indian advantage was 38-6. With 55 seconds left in the second period, Bethune scored their first points of the quarter on two free-throws by Tyler Craig (Sr.). Dinkel's assist led to a left corner trey by Weeter. The quarter ended with a Weeter steal-two. The Indians had used their entire bench for much of the first half and led 43-8 heading to the halftime locker room.
The Bobcats opened the third quarter with consecutive baskets by Javier Elizaga (Jr.) trimming the deficit to 43-10. Tate Busse responded with a quick steal-two. The Indians received scores from Busse, Brady Dinkel, Brock Waters, Jordan Raby, Jake Faulkender, and Tayton Weeter throughout the third period. The reserve Indians played most of the third period and did a fine job, extending the lead to 61-17 after three periods.
The fourth quarter was played with a running clock, with Indian substitutes playing most of the time. The Indians easily defeated the Bethune Bobcats, 72-24.
Senior Tyler Craig led the Bobcat scoring with 13 points (7 in 3rd qtr.). Mike Herrera added 5 points. The Bobcats made 3 of 7 from the line.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Tate Busse with 17 points. Tayton Weeter added 14 points. Others scoring for the Indians included Brock Waters 13, Brady Dinkel 11, Draven Houtman 6, Jordan Raby 4, Taylor Rogers 2, Conner Keller 2, Jeremiah Neitzel 2, and Jake Faulkender 1. The Indians made 6 of 10 from the line.
The Indians will play Idalia on Friday, January 6, 2017.
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