Jackrabbits Run Off With Two Wins
On Thursday, December 6, the Greeley County Jackrabbits defeated St. Francis in junior high boys basketball. The Indians lost the A-team game in a close contest 32-36. In the B-team game, St. Francis had difficulty scoring in three of the four quarters and were defeated 10-22.
The B-team contest was played first at the St. Francis Grade School. The Jackrabbits earned a 0-5 lead in the first period getting a trey from Lincoln Shafer (6th) and a bucket from Kasen Felty (7th). The Indians scored one free-throw in the second stanza (Connor Wachsman) while the Rabbits added three more to their side of the scoreboard. St. Francis trailed 1-8 at halftime.
Jordan Smull added 5 points to the St. Francis total in the third period, and Christian Silva added a trey The scoreboard showed St. Francis 9 - Greeley County 12 at the end of the third period. Greeley County out-scored the Indians 1-10 in the final period to win 10-22.
Scoring for the Indians in the game were Jordan Smull 5, Christian Silva 3, and Connor Wachsman 2. The Indians were whistled for 15 fouls. Seven different players contributed to the Greeley County scoring total. The Rabbits were led by Kasen Felty with 6 points. Brodey Grubb (6th) and Jesus Chavez (6th) each added 4. The Rabbits committed 17 fouls.
In A-team action, the Indians jumped out to an early 6-0 lead getting a driving score from Ben Busse to open the scoring and then adding a post basket by Chris Espino and a steal-two by Colton Raile. At 3:31, Greeley County called time-out to discuss strategy and returned to the floor to quickly score on a baseline drive by Lincoln Shafer. After an answer by Raile on a stick-back, Shafer drained a jumper from the left wing. Busse followed with a steal-two. The first quarter closed after a Raile free-throw and another baseline drive by Shafer. St. Francis led 11-6 after one quarter of play.
Several different players entered the contest in the second period for Greeley County. Their presence was immediately felt. The Jackrabbits opened the period with a 12-point run to take the lead. Jaxon Brandl (8th) scored from the post to start the run. Titus Sherer (8th) followed with a steal-two. With 4:05 left in the second period, Brandl scored again on a nice post move giving the Jackrabbits the lead 12-11. The Indians would not lead again. On the next two possessions, Brandl added baskets on an up-and-under move from the block and a lay-up finishing a fast break. St. Francis called time-out at 2:56 to regroup trailing 11-16. Two more baskets were scored in the final minutes of the first half. Brandl added a steal-two, and Chris Espino scored on a left elbow jumper for the Indians. The Indians had been out-scored by the Rabbits 2-12 in the period. St. Francis trailed 13-18 at the break.
Titus Sherer opened the third period with a steal-two stretching the margin to 7 points. Ben Busse swished a trey from the left wing trimming the gap to four (16-20). Greeley County responded with an out-of-bounds play basket by Brandl and an offensive rebound bucket by Sherer. At 2:36, the Jackrabbits took a time-out and upon returning to the floor added a driving basket by Brandl. The Indians needed to score.....and they did. Chris Espino added one-of-two from the line, and Preston Witzel scored on a baseline jumper (assist Busse). The scoreboard displayed 21-26. The Rabbits then added a stick-back basket and a fast-break basket; both by Brandl. St. Francis trailed the Jackrabbits 21-30 after three periods of action.
Ben Busse opened the final quarter with two free throws. Colton Raile added a driving basket soon after trimming the margin to five (25-30). The action triggered a GC time-out at 4:08. Raile scored after an assist by Prestion Witzel narrowing the deficit to three (27-30). It would be a close as the Indians would get. A driving score in the lane by Sherer was followed by a post basket by Brandl giving the Jackrabbits a bit more cushion. Busse's baseline scoop again narrowed the margin to five, but Jariath Vanez (8th) scored a jumper in the lane to answer. Busse's top-of-the-key trey moved the scoreboard to 32-36 and was followed immediately with an Indian time-out. Though the Indians defended well and had several shot attempts to close the gap, the neither team scored again. St. Francis lost to a good Greeley County team 32-36.
GC's Jaxon Brandl led all scorers with 20 points. Titus Sherer added 8 for the Jackrabbits. The Rabbits did not attempt a free-throw and were called for 9 fouls.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Ben Busse with 16 points. Colton Raile added 9, Chris Espino 5, and Preston Witzel 2. The Indians made 4 of 8 from the line and were whistled for 3 fouls.
In C-team action, St. Francis won 7-2 in a 2-quarter running clock game.
The Indians will play in the Northwest Kansas League Junior High Basketball Tournament in Oberlin on Thursday, December 13, and Saturday, December 15.
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