Boys Drop Semi-Final Contest
The was a bad combination.......an "off" night for the Indians coupled with an outstanding performance by the Wichita County Indians left the Indians licking their wounds after 31-58 loss. The Wichita County (WC) team dominated the action from the outset outscoring the Indians in every quarter but the final one in which the WC substitutes played much of the time. Both teams totaled 11 two-point field goals in the contest. The advantage WC held was from the three-point line where WC held a 10-0 (30 point) advantage.
Wichita County jumped out to an early 2-9 lead getting a trey from Kayde Rietzke (5' 9" So.) and two treys from Gabe Hernandez ( 5' 7" Jr.) before less than three minutes had expired. During the action, Richard Johnson added a deuce for the Indians. A post basket from Jesse Baxter was followed by a free-throw line jumper by Brady Dinkel trimming the the deficit to 6-9. A few possessions later, Baxter scored on a cut to the goal after receiving a nice pass from Colton Neitzel. The Indians were now within one (8-9). It's as close as the Indians would get as the treys would soon rain again. Hernandez drained a top-of-the-key trey, and Sonny Altman (6' 2" Jr.) added another from the right baseline moments later. WC held an 8-15 lead after one quarter of play. All of WC's scoring had come from the three-point line.
The WC run would continue. Kayde Reitzke drained a right-wing trey to open the second period. Gabe Hernandez added lay-up after a St. Francis turnover. The Indians called time-out at 5:36 trailing 8-20. After returning to action, WC received a baseline jumper from Sonny Altman, a right-wing trey from Hernandez, and a fast-break basket by Altman. Hernandez's score on another break placed the Indians at a 20-point deficit with 3:20 left in the first half. Wichita County had out-scored the Indians 20-0 in the preceding 5 minutes. Colton Neitzel's post basket ended the WC run, but was answered by a right-wing trey by Hernandez on the next WC possession. Neitzel soon scored again (plus one) on an out-of-bounds play assist from Brady DInkel. Following two free-throws by Rietzke, Dinkel earned a steal-two and followed it with consecutive free-throws. Hernandez would drain one more trey before the half ended increasing the sum to 9 treys for WC. St. Francis trailed at halftime 17-37.
WC's Oscar Jimenez ( 6' 4" Sr.) opened the second half with a a baby hook in the lane. Richard Johnson answered with a baseline drive. Rietzke followed with two baskets; one after a St. Francis turnover and one on a baseline drive. Jimenez then added a jumper in the lane, and WC took a time-out at 3:48 leading 19-45. Colton Neitzel followed Altman's free-throw with a driving score. Hernandez then sank both free-throws after a technical foul was called on the Indians. Sheldon Whalen (6' 0" So.) added a deuce after another Indian turnover. The final basket of the quarter came on a drive by Hernandez. The Indians were out-scored 4-15 in the third period and trailed 21-52 at the third-quarter break.
With the spread being 30-plus points, a running clock was used in the final period. Another SF turnover led to the first score of the final period; a lay-up by Rietzke giving WC their greatest advantage 21-54. A pair of free-throws by Richard Johnson was followed by one last trey for WC; this one by Altman from the top-of-the-key. With WC substitutes seeing much of the playing time in the final period, the Indians earned two free-throws by Brady Dinkel and two free-throws by K.C. Krien before WC would score again on a charity toss by Hernandez. An assist by Colton Neitzel led to a post basket by Johnson in the final minutes. At 1:14, WC called time-out to enter a few more substitutes in the contest. Only one more basket was added; a left elbow jumper by Jesse Baxter. St. Francis lost to a hot-shooting WC team, 31-58.
Wichita County was led in scoring by Gabe Hernandez with 27 points. Sonny Altman and Kayde Rietzke each added 11. The WC Indians made 10 treys, committed 18 fouls, had 13 turnovers, and made 6 of 9 from the free-throw line.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Brady Dinkel and Richard Johnson; each with 8 points. Colton Neitzel added 7, Jesse Baxter 6, and K.C. Krien 2. The Indians made 9 of 14 from the stripe and committed 18 turnovers and 14 fouls.
The Indians will play in the 3rd place game of the Sagebrush Classic on Saturday, December 8, against Logan. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the South Gym at Brewster High School.
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