Fourth Quarter Skid Leads to Loss
JV Wins
The Indians played two very competitive games against the Weskan Coyotes on Tuesday, January 9. The junior varsity team escaped with a 36-31 win. The varsity boys played well early to build a 26 point lead, but collapsed in the final 11 minutes to lose 73-78. The games were played at Weskan High School.
The junior varsity game was a ragged affair with both teams playing hard but having difficulty maintaining control of the basketball. The game was marred by many turnovers, but the pace was up-and down. St. Francis had more than 25 turnovers in the contest. Weskan junior Zack Box opened the scoring with a lay-up after an Indian turnover. Draven Houtman placed the Indians on the scoreboard with a stick-back basket moments later. A nice high-low post pass from Colton Neitzel to Houtman resulted in two more. Cody Seader (So.) then added a steal-two tying the contest. The Indians responded with a 9-0 run getting a basket from Neitzel (offensive rebound) and three scores from Tayton Weeter (coast-to-coast, steal-two, break (plus one)) to lead 13-4. The Indians would never trail again. St. Francis led 13-6 after one quarter of action with addition of a coast-to-coast basket by Weskan's Zach Schemm (Fr.).
Jesse Baxter opened the second period with a strong cut to the hoop. After a Weskan time-out at 6:29, sophomore Jace Mackley scored from the post for Weskan. Tracer Vincent (Jr.) added a steal-two moments later. Wyatt Hilt nailed a shot in the lane to help the Indians' cause, but Weskan followed with two more scores; a basket by Box and a fast-break score by Mackley. The advantage narrowed to 17-14. Bryce Raby's assist on a Jesse Baxter cut helped, and Connor Keller's right-corner trey gave the Indians a bit of breathing room (22-14). Weskan would add one more basket before halftime, but the Indians led 22-16 at the break.
The Coyotes returned from the locker room ready to play. A free-throw by Box and a right-wing trey by Cody Seader moved the Coyotes within two (22-20). Draven Houtman added a shot from the lane, but Isaic Dinkel (Sr.) answered with a score in the paint. The Coyotes were working hard to gain the lead. St. Francis earned two more scores in the third period; a right corner bucket by Kobe Tice and post basket by Houtman. The Indians led 28-22 after three quarters.
The Indians opened the final period with three consecutive baskets. Tayton Weeter scored on a coast-to-coast drive followed by a steal-two and Wyatt Hilt added a shot from the free-throw area. The flurry increased the margin to 12 points (34-22). Junior Caleb Schemm tossed in an uncontested right-corner trey at 3:40 triggering a St. Francis time-out. After a Weskan free-throw, Bryce Raby scored on an assist from Colton Neitzel. The next Weskan score, a shot from the left-wing, was followed by a quick time-out by the Coyotes at 1:02. After returning to the floor, an Indian turnover resulted in another Weskan score. St. Francis then called time-out to re-group leading 36-31. The Coyotes would get two more chances to score, but no additional points were added. St. Francis won the junior varsity contest. 36-31.
Scoring for the Indians in the JV game were Tayton Weeter 11, Draven Houtman 8, Wyatt Hilt 4, Jesse Baxter 4, Conner Keller 3, Colton Neitzel 2, Kobe Tice 2, and Bryce Raby 2.
The varsity game was an interesting exhibition of momentum switch. The game was fast-paced as both teams desired to push the tempo and had good athletes on the court. St. Francis completely controlled the first 2 1/2 quarters of the contest. Weskan dominated the final portion. Seldom do you see a game where two somewhat even teams completely dominate the other for long periods of time.
The Indians opened the varsity contest with a trey by Brady Dinkel and a driving score by Tate Busse. After a right-wing trey by junior Tracer Vincent, Dalton Straub scored on a drive. With the addition of two Straub free-throws on the next possession, St. Francis led 9-3. Weskan narrowed the deficit to one point (9-8) with a baseline drive and top-of-the-key trey by sophomore Cody Seader. After an offensive rebound score by K.C. Krien for the Indians, Weskan's highly athletic senior Bailey McQuillan tied the contest (11-11) on a stick-back basket (plus one). Busse soon added another driving score, but a deep three-ball by senior Dallas Seader gave the Coyotes their first lead of the contest (13-14). It would be the only lead the Coyotes would possess until the closing moments of the game. As the pace of the game continued to increase, the Indians began to add points more quickly. Busse scored on a drive, a trey, and right-wing shot giving St. Francis a 20-14 advantage. Busse's assists soon led to scores by Richard Johnson and Straub in the paint. Late in the first quarter, the Indians led 24-14, but a trey by Dallas Seader in the closing moments changed the score to 24-17 at the break.
The Indians looked especially sharp in the second period. Wyatt Hacker added an offensive rebound basket and Tate Busse a driving score to open the quarter. After a trey by Zach Box, Dalton Straub scored on a sweet pick-and-roll play with Busse. K.C. Krien then scored on a stick-back as did Tayton Weeter. With 4:26 remaining in the first half, Weskan called time-out trailing 36-20. The Indians' run was not over, however, and soon Busse added another drive, Straub earned a stick-back, and Straub connected on a left-wing shot (assist Busse). The Indians had scored 14 unanswered points and now led by 22 points (42-20). Box ended the string of unanswered points with score for Weskan, but Busse earned a steal-two to counter. After two consecutive baskets by Bailey McQuillan, Straub added another basket on an assist from Brady Dinkel. St. Francis closed the first half leading 48-26 after the addition of two free-throws by Krien.
The Indians had played very well throughout the first half. Weskan had played very hard also, but some miscues and a bit of tough luck had placed them at a large disadvantage. The Coyotes opened the second half with a basket by Bailey McQuillan. Dalton Straub added a stick-back basket and a free-throw to the Indians' score. Dallas Seader traded baskets with Straub and K.C. Krien maintaining the Indian lead at 22. Though Weskan added a couple free-throws, baskets by Brady Dinkel (assist Krien), Straub (baseline drive), and Tate Busse (drive) soon moved the spread to 26 points (62-36). With approximately 2 1/2 minutes to go in the 3rd period St. Francis made several substitutions to rest players. The timing seemed to match an increased defensive effort by the Coyotes and the momentum switched completely. The Indians would only earn one additional basket in the remaining portion of the third period; a post basket by Straub (assist Wyatt Hackler). The Coyotes began to find the basket with regularity and four different Coyotes scored before the quarter ended. St. Francis led 64-46 at the third quarter break.
In the final period, it seemed as if each loose ball, break, and all the momentum was held by the Coyotes. As the Coyotes gained momentum, the Indians aggressiveness and confidence waned. Cody Seader drained a right-corner trey to open the period. Tate Busse followed with a trey (assist Connor Keller). It would be the last basket the Indians would score for a while. Weskan scored the next 15 points getting numerous offensive rebounds and scrambling for loose balls. In the run, Weskan received 8 points from McQuillan, 4 points from Jace Mackley, and 3 from Dallas Seader. Aiding the momentum swing were a charging foul on Dalton Straub and a blocking call against Wyatt Hackler. With 3:38 left in the contest, the score stood at 67-63. Straub connected on a shot from the right baseline on the next possession ending the Indians' scoring drought of nearly five minutes. The next to baskets were huge! Cody Seader and Zack Box drained back-to-back treys to tie the contest at 69-all. Straub answered with a driving score to place the Indians back in front, but McQuillan answered with a drive for the Coyotes. On the next possession, Busse swished a shot from the free-throw circle (73-71). At 1:43, Weskan called time-out after gaining possession of another offensive rebound, one of many in the final period. After returning to the floor, McQuillan scored on a drive to tie the contest once again. At 1:22, Hackler was fouled on a rebound, but failed to convert either toss. At 1:05, Dallas Seader drove for a basket placing Weskan in front 75-73. It was the first lead the Coyotes had held since mid-way through the first period. On the next Indian possession, Busse was called for a charge against D. Seader while driving to the basket. St. Francis called time-out at 53.7 to re-group. After a Weskan turnover at 49.9, Dinkel was called for a charge at 34.1. Needing to gain possession of the basketball, St. Francis fouled with 22.5 seconds remaining. Cody Seader made one-of-two. With 13.5 seconds left, St. Francis called time-out for strategy. The Indians missed their next shot attempt and were forced to foul again with 5.2 seconds left.. An intentional foul was called. (See below.)McQuillan made one-of-two to move the scoreboard to 73-77. The intentional foul call gave Weskan possession after the free-throw. The Indians fouled again at 4.3. Dallas Seader made one-of-two advancing the Weskan score to 78. Both teams had played very well at times in the contest, but this game was won by Weskan in exciting fashion, 73-78.
Weskan was led in scoring by Bailey McQuillan with 21 points. Dallas Seader added 20 to the Weskan cause. Other significant scoring contributions by Weskan players were Zach Box 18, Cody Seader 9, and Jace Mackley 7. The Coyotes made only 10 of 23 from the stripe, but made just enough late to seal the win. The Coyotes were called for 13 fouls. Weskan made 10 treys in the contest.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Tate Busse with 29 points. Dalton Straub played well scoring 27. Other Indians contributing to the point total were K.C. Krien 6, Brady Dinkel 5, Tayton Weeter 2, Wyatt Hackler 2, and Richard Johnson 2. St. Francis made 7 of 15 from the stripe and was whistled for 21 fouls.
Here's the real scoop! St. Francis out-scored Weskan 48-26 in the first half. Weskan out-scored St. Francis 25-52 in the second half. St. Francis was 0 of 4 from the line in the last quarter. In the final period, the Coyotes out-scored the Indians 9-32.
The Indians will play Dighton, in St. Francis, on Friday, January 12.
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