Indians Hunt Down The Cougars
The Indians defeated the Cheylin Cougars 73-33 in McDonald on Tuesday, February 14. The Cougars never threatened the taller more athletic Indians, and St. Francis lead throughout the contest and extended the lead throughout the game. There was no junior varsity game.
The Indians jumped out to an early 7-0 lead receiving baskets from Quinton Cravens (two), Brock Waters, and a basket and free-throw from Tate Busse. The Cougars first score came on a left-wing shot by Thomas Frisbie (6' 0' senior). After a driving score by Waters, Frisbie added consecutive free-throws trimming the lead to 9-5. The Indians then went on a 9-2 run to close the first period. Dalton Straub and Busse each scored two of the final four buckets. St. Francis led 20-8 after one period of action.
The Indians continued their deliberate offensive play against the Cheylin zone defense working for good shots. Though the pace was a bit slower than the Indians sometimes employ, the results was especially good looks at the rim. The Indians also used good transition offense to turn turnovers into points.The Indians opened the quarter with fast-break basket by Tate Busse on an assist by Brock Waters. Quinton Craven's assist set up the next Busse score. After two free-throws by Cheylin's Carter Porubsky, Cravens added an offensive rebound basket. Busse followed with a steal and two-handed dunk. A transition basket by Dalton Straub (assist Busse) triggered a Cheylin time-out at 2:52 with the Indians up 30-10. After returning to the floor, Porubsky drained a trey and Manuel Castillo (5' 7" junior) added an offensive rebound. The half closed after three Busse free-throws and a top-of-the-key trey by Castillo. St. Francis led 33-18 at halftime.
The pace of the game picked up in the third period as the Indians increased their defensive pressure and pushed the ball up-court offensively. The Indians opened the quarter with a 13-0 burst in the first three minutes of the period. In the run, Quinton Cravens added an offensive rebound basket (plus one), a fast break bucket (assist Tate Busse) and a post-basket (assist Jeremiah Neitzel); Busse scored two fast-break lay-ups (the second another dunk); and Brock Waters scored on a steal-two. The run was halted by a left-corner score by Cheylin's Erik Perez (5' 7" junior). On the next possession, Neitzel found Cravens again on the same action. After two Cheylin scores, Waters added two lay-ups, the second coming after a steal. Another Waters' steal led to a Busse lay-in, and at 2:25, a post-move basket by Neitzel gave the Indians aa 56-25 lead. But the Indians weren't finished just yet. Dalton Straub's assist led to a fast-break score by Brady Dinekl; Taylor Rogers scored on a steal-two; and Rogers' assist set up a score by Dinkel. The quarter closed with the Indians leading 64-25 after the addition of two Dinkel free-throws.
With the lead more than 30 points, the fourth quarter was played with a running clock by substitute players. During the final quarter, Brady Dinkel added another fast-break score on a nice assist by Dalton Straub, K.C. Krien added a free-throw, and Jordan Raby swished three consecutive shots to add six points. The Indians defeated the Cheylin Cougars 73-33.
Cheylin was led in scoring by Carter Porubsky (6' 1" senior) with 8 points and Jordan Janicke ( 6' 0" junior) with 7. The Cougars made 5 of 8 free throw attempts.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Tate Busse with 21 points. Quinton Cravens added 15 and Brock Waters 12. Other Indians scoring in the game were Brady Dinkel 8, Dalton Straub 6, Jordan Raby 6, Taylor Rogers 2, Jeremiah Neitzel 2, and K.C. Krien 1.
The Indians will play the Greeley County Jackrabbit on Friday, February 17, in Tribune.
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