Indians Defeat Titans in Hard-Fought Battle
St. Francis defeated Triplains-Brewster (TPB) in both contests held on Thursday evening, February 15. St. Francis won the junior varsity boys contest 38-19. The varsity Indians defeat the Titans 68-61 in a highly-competitive battle. The games were played on a Thursday as make-up games due to earlier cancellations.
St. Francis jumped out to a 8-0 lead in the junior varsity boys contest. The Indians earned a steal-two by Tayton Weeter, an offensive rebound score by Richard Johnson, a drive by Weeter, and offensive rebound basket by Jesse Baxter enroute to the advantage. The Titans earned their first score of the contest with 2:23 left in the first period on a stick-back basket by freshman Chad Zerr. Only two more points were scored in the period; a pair of free-throws by Connor Keller. St. Francis led 10-2 after one quarter of play.
A new group of Indians began the second period, but the result was the same. Kobe Tice found Adam Krien open for a shot at the left elbow. Bryce Raby then scored a stick-back bucket. After two free-throws by Raby, Adam Krien added a free-throw and then Raby scored in the lane on an assist from Krien. Late in the period, two free-throws by Krien extended the lead to 21-2. Dakota Enslow scored a coast-to-coast basket for the Titans; their only score of the period. St. Francis led 21-4 at halftime. Twelve Indians saw ample playing time in the first half.
A high-low pass from Colton Neitzel to Jesse Baxter opened the second half scoring. TPB followed with a post-basket by Jackson Clymer (So.) and a score by Tayler Wright (Jr.). The addition of a Wirght free-throw narrowed the margin to 23-9. St. Francis scored the next three hoops; a stick-back basket by Baxter, an offensive-rebound score by Neitzel, and a shot in the lane by Bryce Raby. The margin was twenty again (29-9). Neitzel sandwiched another score between two treys by TPB's Enslow. The final score of the quarter came on another Baxter bucket. St. Francis led 33-15 at the third quarter break.
TPB would add four points in the final period while St. Francis added five. Draven Houtman sank consecutive free-throws and Kobe Tice drained a trey. St. Francis won the junior varsity contest 38-19.
Scoring for St. Francis in the JV game were Jesse Baxter 8, Bryce Raby 8, Adam Krien 5, Tayton Weeter 4, Colton Neitzel 4, Kobe Tice 3, Connor Keller 2, Richard Johnson 2, and Draven Houtman 2. The Indians made 9 of 14 from the line, were whistled for 6 fouls, and committed 15 turnovers.
TPB was led by Dakota Enslow with 8 points. The Titans mad 1 of 4 from the line, had 11 fouls, and committed 23 turnovers.
St. Francis jumped out to a 7-0 lead early in the varsity contest. The Indians' first basket came on a high-low post pass from Brady Dinkel to Dalton Straub. An assist by K.C. Krien led to a left-corner trey by Dinkel. With the addition of two free-throws by Straub, the Indians led 7-0. TPB scored their first point--a free-throw by Jacob Benham (Sr.)--with 3:44 left in the period. Back-to-back Benham baskets soon narrowed the margin to one (7-6). After a pair of Straub free-throws, Brett Roulier (Jr.) scored a lay-up on well-executed press offense. Straub's assist set up a right-corner trey by Dinkel. At 1:48 in the first quarter, Straub picked up his 3rd foul, sending him to the bench. It was big blow to the Indians, both offensively and defensively. St. Francis would not score again in the period. TPB would add a post basket by Roulier and drive at the buzzer by Adrian Cortes (Sr.). The score was tied at 12-all at the first quarter break.
Brett Roulier scored on the Titan's 1st possession of the second period giving the Titans their first and only lead of contest (12-14). Tate Busse drained a right-wing trey giving the Indians the lead for good. On the next Indian possession, an assist by Richard Johnson set up another Busse trey from the same location. Two Roulier free-throws narrowed the advantage to two, but a left-corner trey by Brady Dinkel (assist Adam Krien) widened the margin to 21-16. After a Roulier score on a lob, Busse drained a right-corner trey and scored on a drive increasing the advantage to eight (26-18). Junior Hunter House followed with a top-of-the-key trey for the Titans. With Straub in foul trouble, freshman Jesse Baxter had filled in with more-than-adequate minutes. Baxter's assist led to a Dinkel score on a cut to the goal. Another Busse trey at 1:14, his 4th of the period, gave the Indians a double-digit advantage (31-21). Busse added two free-throws late in the quarter, but junior Aaron Platt scored the final basket of the half for the Titans. St. Francis led 33-23 at halftime. The game had been cleanly but aggressively played by both teams. Each team had 5 turnovers at the break.
BTP's Jacob Benham opened the second half with a baseline drive. Adrian Cortes followed with a driving score trimming the advantage to six (33-27). At the opposite end, Wyatt Hackler added a jumper in the lane. A left-wing trey by Hunter House (Jr.) followed a free-throw by sophomore Weston Schmidt, and the Titans were threatening. With the lead only four (35-31) the Indians needed a score--and they got it. Brady Dinkel's left-corner trey on the next possession was huge! The margin increased back to 7 (38-31) at 4:10. A Roulier basket in the lane was off-set by an offensive rebound score by Dalton Straub. Platt's post score was canceled by a drive by Busse. A second trey by House again narrowed the margin to five (42-38), but a post-basket by Straub certainly helped ease the pain. A sweet assist from Busse set up the next Straub score, but at 1:01, Straub picked up his 4th foul and headed for the bench again. After two Benham free-throws, an offensive rebound and assist by Jesse Baxter led to another Busse trey from the top-of-the-key (49-40). Busse would add one more score on a break before quarter closed. St. Francis led 51-40 after three periods of action.
Tate Busse's left-elbow jumper was followed by a steal-two by Tayton Weeter giving the Indians a 55-40 lead early in the fourth period. TPB then scored on three consecutive possessions to narrow the margin to 55-46. Busse answered with a top-of-the-key trey (and one) returning the margin to 59-46. After a Platt free-throw, TPB called time-out with 4:20 remaining and returned to the floor to earn a top-of-the key trey by Roulier. A driving score by Benham reduced the Indian advantage to 59-52. Jesse Baxter added the next SF score on a high-low pass from Brady Dinkel. Tayton Weeter's assist to Baxter on a break increased the lead back to double-digits (63-52). As the seconds were ticking away, TPB resorted to fouling the Indians to preserve clock. After a Benham score, Busse added 1 of 2 with 47.9 seconds left. Roulier then scored on an offensive rebound (plus one) (64-57). Busse then drained two more charity tosses. A driving score by Benham and a Roulier offensive rebound quickly narrowed the margin to 66-61. Baxter added consecutive free-throws late in the game to help preserve the win. Both teams had fought hard. The Indians had prevailed 68-61.
Brett Roulier led the Titans with 20 points. Jacob Benham added 18. Hunter House and Aaron Platt each chipped in 9 to the Titan's total. TPB made 11 of 20 from the stripe, totaled 16 fouls, and had 9 turnovers.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Tate Busse with 32 points. Brady Dinkel added 14 and Dalton Straub 12. Others scoring for St. Francis included Jesse Baxter 6, Tayton Weeter 2, and Wyatt Hackler 2. The Indians had 15 turnovers, 21 fouls, and made 12 of 15 from the line.
The Indians will play Greeley County in St. Francis on Friday, February 16.
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