Indians Thump the Red Devils
The St. Francis Indians lead by as many 42 points enroute to a 76-43 victory over the Decatur Community Red Devils in the varsity contest on Friday 9. St. Francis also won the junior varsity contest by a score of 38-20. The games were played at St. Francis High School.
The Indians scored the first two baskets of the varsity contest. An assist by Dalton Straub led to a score by Brady DInkel in the post. Wyatt Hacker then scored on an out-of-bounds play on an assist from Tate Busse. Decatur Community's (DC) Gavon Uehlin (Fr.) answered with a trey from the right wing. It would be the only basket the Red Devils would score for several minutes while the Indians methodically added to their point total. Straub added a driving basket, and Busse scored on a drive (plus one). Dinkel added a transition trey after an assist by Busse moving the score to 11-3. The Red Devils had seen enough, and called time-out to regroup. With the addition of free-throws by Hackler and a baseline drive by Straub (plus one), the Indians expanded the lead to 16-3. DC added their second score at the 2:50 mark on a drive by Kole Breth (Sr.). After another driving score by Straub, DC's Zach Corbett (Jr.) added a bucket from the high post. The Indians led 21-9 at the first quarter break after the addition of a Busse trey and Breth drive.
The Indians would score the first 12 points of the second period getting scores from Tate Busse (trey & deuce), Adam Krien (baseline jumper), Tayton Weeter (steal-two), and Dalton Straub (out-of-bounds play +1). With approximately five minutes left in the second period, the Indians led 33-9. DC's Brandon Beagley scored on a cut to the rim halting the Indians run. Busse then added a trey and an and-one basket (assist Straub). After a Corbett post basket, Busse added a steal-two and turnover-two placing the Indians at a 30-point advantage (43-13) with 1:32 left in the first half. The Red Devils then added their first back-to-back baskets of the contest getting two offensive rebound scores. Straub added the final score of the quarter on a stick-back basket. St. Francis led 45-17 at halftime.
On their opening possession of the second half, the Indians turned the ball over, but a steal-two by Tate Busse on the ensuing DC possession opened the second half scoring. DC followed with an offensive rebound score. Busse then added a top-of-the-key trey (assist Wyatt Hackler) and a steal-two dunk. The scoreboard clicked to 52-19. DC's James Garner (So.) added a left-corner trey for the Devils, and Busse added another driving score. After Garner swished 3-of-3 from the line, Busse's assist led to a basket by Dalton Straub in the lane. The Indians then tacked on a steal-two by Wyatt Hackler, two free-throws by Brady Dinkel, a post-basket by Straub, and a top-of-the-key trey by Dinkel (assist Straub). Decatur Community called time-out with 3:22 left trailing 65-25. It was time for some Indian subs to get some action. Later in the period, a steal by Jesse Baxter led to another dunk by Busse. On the next St. Francis possession, a fast-break assist from Straub led to final Busse score increasing the margin to 42. St. Francis led 73-34 at the third quarter break.
The Indian substitute players played the entire fourth quarter with the action being played with a running clock. St. Francis recorded two turnovers on the opening possessions of the period, but eventually added three more points in the period getting a free-throw from Connor Keller and two free-throws from Draven Houtman. St. Francis defeated Decatur Community 76-43 in varsity action.
Tate Busse led all scorers with 34 points (15 in 2nd Qtr.; 13 in 3rd Qtr.). Dalton Straub had a strong game scoring 18 points. Others scoring for the Indians were Brady Dinkel 10, Wyatt Hacker 5, Adam Krien 4, Draven Houtman 2, Tayton Weeter 2, and Connor Keller 1. The Indians made 9 of 11 from the line, had 8 turnovers, and were called for 5 fouls.
Decatur Community was led in scoring by Kole Breth with 16 points an Braden Beagley with 13. The Red Devils made 7 of 10 from the stripe, had 17 turnovers, and 9 fouls.
The junior varsity game followed a similar pattern. St. Francis took a 7-3 lead on a left-wing trey by Tayton Weeter and led 12-6 after a coast-to-coast drive by Colton Neitzel closed the first period.
The Indians increased the margin to 25-9 in the second period. The St. Francis post players worked well together during the period assisting each other for easy baskets. St. Francis earned four post baskets from Draven Houtman, Richard Johnson, and Jesse Baxter all coming on nice assists. Wyatt Hilt added a trey to close the first half.
The margin continued to increase in the third period. Tayton Weeter added 6 points in the period all coming on steal or turnover-twos. St. Francis led 34-11 after three periods of play.
The Indians only added 4 more points to their total in the final period; on baskets by Bryce Raby and Draven Houtman. The Devils scored 9 in the final period, but the Indians prevailed 38-20.
Scoring for St. Francis in the junior varsity game were Tayton Weeter 12, Draven Houtman 6, Colton Neitzel 4, Richard Johnson 4, Wyatt Hilt 3, Brady Schoenrogge 2, Bryce Raby 2, Connor Keller 2, Jesse Baxter 2, Adam Krien 1. The Indians made 1 of 4 from the line and had 10 fouls. Decatur Community was led by Hunter May with 6 points.
The Indians will play Cheylin in St. Francis on Tuesday, February 13.
Click the photos to see more photos!
