Busse Sets New Scoring Record in GC Win
Tate Busse set a new St. Francis High School single game scoring record on Friday evening, February 16. Busse netted 46 points in the Indians' 66-55 victory over the Greeley County Jackrabbits. The total surpassed the old record of 38, set by Tate on December 10, 2016, in a game with Logan. Every one of the points were needed as the scrappy Jackrabbits also played well and gave the Indians all they wanted in the contest. It was a very well played game by both teams.
Greeley County's (GC) Thatcher Lackey (Jr.) opened the contest with a strong post-move basket. St. Francis answered with a fast-break basket on an assist from Tate Busse to Brady Dinkel. After another Lackey post score, Jake Faulkender scored for the Indians. Lackey's third score of the contest came from a greater distance; a trey from the right corner showing his versatility. St. Francis gained the lead after a drive by Dalton Straub and a drive by Busse (8-7). The lead lasted as long as it took to get to the opposite end of the floor where GC's Jaly Yanez (Jr.) swished a deep top-of-the-key trey. The shot may have been challenge to Busse, as Tate answered with an even deeper trey at the opposite goal moving the scoreboard to 11-10. On the next Indian possession, Dinkel found Busse on a cut to the hoop giving the Indians a three-point advantage (13-10). As the Jackrabbits had shown throughout the game, they had come to compete. Two free-throws by Jose Chavez (Jr.) and another Lackey post-basket soon erased the Indians' advantage. The action would continue back-and-forth throughout the contest. Straub nailed a long deuce in the closing minute of the quarter, but Lackey answered with a deuce for the Rabbits before the horn sounded. St. Francis trailed 15-16 after one quarter of play.
The GC lead increased to three on a shot by Lackey to open the second period. After a post-basket by Dalton Straub, GC's Chavez sank back-to-back treys from the left side. With the addition of a driving basket and a floater in the lane by freshman Seth Williams, the Jackrabbits earned an eleven-point lead (17-28) at the 4:25 mark. The run ended on a Busse jumper in the lane. After a Lackey post-move score, Busse drained a trey from the right-wing. Lackey answered with a left-wing trey for the Rabbits. Busse's next score was followed by a drive by sophomore Jasper Lackey. A transition-trey by Busse was followed by a baseline score by Chavez. The quarter closed on a deep-trey by Busse and a trey by Dinkel (assist Busse). St. Francis had trimmed the GC lead to 33-37.
The back-and-forth action would continue. A free-throw by Dalton Straub was followed by a stick-back basket by Thatcher Lackey. A floater in the lane by Tate Busse was answered by an aggressive two-hand dunk by Lackey. Back-to-back treys by Busse gave the Indians a 42-41 lead. The lead was short-lived as Lackey soon scored again for the Jackrabbits. At 3:45, GC called time-out. At 2:09, St. Francis called time-out. Both teams had struggled to score for a couple minutes. Five more baskets would be scored in the final two minutes of the third period. Tate Busse would drain three more treys, giving him five in the quarter. GC would get a trey from Lackey and a deuce from Yanez. St. Francis led 51-48 after three quarters of action.
As they had done all game, the Jackrabbits soon retook the lead. Two free-throws by Yanez were followed by a top-of-the-key trey by Lackey. GC took a 51-52 advantage. It would be the last lead the Jackrabbits would hold. Brady Dinkel's assist set up a post basket by Tayton Weeter. A Busse drive and top-of-the-key trey increased the Indians' advantage to 58-52 with 4:35 to go. I was the largest lead the Indians had held in the contest. Yanez soon responded with a top-of-the key trey for the Rabbits. At 3:40, St. Francis called time-out. The teams became a bit more deliberate in their offensive approaches with the game on the line. A baseline jumper by Adam Krien increased the Indians' lead to 60-55. Busse followed with a steal-two. Brady Dinkel added two free-throws and Busse a final driving score to close out the action. The Indians had held the Jackrabbits scoreless for nearly four minutes to close the contest. St. Francis defeated a pesky Greeley County team 66-55.
Greeley County had four players in double-figures. Thatcher Lackey led the Jackrabbits with 21 points. Jose Chavez, Jaly Yanez, and Sebastian Torres each added 10. The Rabbits made 4 of 4 from the stripe, tallied 8 fouls, and had only 7 turnovers.
St. Francis received 46 points from Tate Busse, an outstanding individual performance. Others scoring for St. Francis included Brady Dinkel 7, Dalton Straub 7, Adam Krien 2, Tayton Weeter 2, and Jake Faulkender 2. St. Francis made 3 of 6 from the line, amassed 8 fouls, and had 9 turnovers.
St. Francis won the two-quarters-only junior varsity contest 24-19. The Indians jumped out to a 6-0 lead getting a post basket by Jesse Baxter, a steal-two by Tayton Weeter, and a baseline drive by Baxter. The Jackrabbits first score came with 3:05 on the clock; a basket in the lane by sophomore Fabel Yanez. Freshman Seth Williams followed with a fast-break basket. Richard Johnson then added a post-basket after a nice pass by Colton Neitzel. Jasper Lackey added a baseline drive for the Rabbits moving GC within two (8-6). The final basket of the first period was a basket in the lane by Tayton Weeter. St. Francis led 10-6 at the first-quarter break.
The Indians scored 14 points in the second (and final) period. The Jackrabbits added 13 to their total. Richard Johnson and Tayton Weeter each scored two baskets for the Indians. Colton Neitzel added a post basket and Connor Keller and Adam Krien each chipped in two free-throws. The Indians defeated the Jackrabbits 24-19.
Greeley County was led by sophomore Jasper Lackey with 8 points. Freshman Seth Williams scored 7. The Rabbits made 2 of 4 from the line and had 6 fouls.
St. Francis was led by Tayton Weeter with 8 points. Richard Johnson added 6. Others scoring for St. Francis included Jesse Baxter 4, Colton Neitzel 2, Adam Krien 2, and Connor Keller 2.
Before the boys game a Senior Night recognition was held. Four seniors; Tate Busse, Jake Faulkender, and Wyatt Hackler, and Dalton Straub and their parents were recognized for participation in the boys basketball program.
The Indians will play Wallace County, in Sharon Springs, on Tuesday, February 20.
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