Indians Roll Over Red Devils
The high school boys basketball games between the St. Francis Indians and the Decatur Community Red Devils were complete mismatches. The Indian junior varsity opened the evening with a 26-2 win in a two-quarter contest. The varsity game was much the same with the Indians earning a 30-point halftime lead and cruising to a 65-33 win with substitute players playing most of the second half.
The Indians opened the varsity contest with a 13-0 run in the first three and a half minutes of the contest. The run included an opening post basket by Quinton Cravens (assist Jeremiah Neitzel), a bucket by Taylor Rogers (assist Tate Busse), a coast-to-coast drive and a fast break basket by Busse, a steal-two by Cravens, and a left-wing trey by Busse (assist Brock Waters). At 4:32, the Red Devils called time-out to regroup. After returning to the floor the Red Devils' Braden Beagley (5' 9" junior) swished a trey placing the Red Devils on the scoreboard. The Indians responded with two more scores; the second being a right-corner jumper by Busse (assist Rogers). Beagley scored on an offensive rebound and a free-throw in the closing minutes of the quarter to account for all of DC's first period points. The Indians added a fast-break basket by Busse,and two free-throws by Brady Dinkel to make the score 24-6 at the first quarter break.
The Indians continued to roll in the second period using deliberate offensive execution resulting in good looks at the basket. After a basket by DC's Zach Corbett (6' 2" sophomore) to open the quarter, the Indians scored the next 15 points extending the margin to 39-8 with 3:21 remaining in the second quarter. In the run, Brady Dinkel added 7 points, Taylor Rogers 4, and Jeremiah Neitzel and Quinton Cravens 2 each. The run ended when DC's Gatlen Hissong (6' 2" senior) made a shot from the left wing. The Indians would add another basket by Cravens and a final trey by Busse before halftime. The Indians led 44-14 at halftime.
The Indian regulars only played four minutes of the second half. In the few moments of court time, the Indians continued to use deliberate offense to earn good shots. Jeremiah Neitzel scored on a assist to the post by Tate Busse to open the half, Brock Waters added a free-throw area jumper, and Dalton Straub's steal and assist set up a layup by Busse. With 4:09 remaining in the third period, and leading 50-16, the Indians began inserting substitute players into the contest. Brock Waters and Dalton Straub (assist Jake Faulkender) scored the next two baskets increasing the lead to 55-16. With the addition of baskets by Brady Dinkel (two) and K.C. Krien, the Indians led 61-21 at the third quarter horn.
The Indians only had four turnovers in the first two and a half quarters of the contest, but the younger Indians accounted for 7 in the final quarter and a half. The miscues led to a few easy baskets for the Red Devils late in the contest. The final period was played with a running clock due to the 30-point rule. The Indians defeated the Red Devils 65-33.
St. Francis had 10 players score in the contest. Tate Busse led all scorers with 17 points (12 in the 1st period). Quinton Cravens added 12 and Brady Dinkel 11. Other Indians adding to the point total were: Taylor Rogers 6, Jeremiah Neitzel 4, Brock Waters 4, Jordan Raby 4, Dalton Straub 3, K. C. Krien 2, and Tayton Weeter 2, The Indians made 5 of 7 from the charity line.
Decatur Community was led in scoring by Kole Breth (5' 10" junior) 12, Gatlin Hissong 8, and Braden Beagley 8. The Red Devils made 4 of 7 from the stripe.
St. Francis will play Cheylin, in McDonald, on Tuesday, February 14.
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