Indians Sharp In Win Over Quinter
After after struggling through a very cold shooting night on Tuesday, the Indians looked like themselves again on Thursday. The Indians played well throughout their NWKL semi-final contest against Quinter and earned a ten-point victory (51-41) over the Bulldogs. The win advanced the Indians into the fifth-place contest of the NWKL Tournament on Saturday against Greeley County. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT in the Junior Varsity Gym at Wallace County High School in Sharon Springs.
In the other semi-final games, Greeley County defeated Decatur Community 59-38, Wallace County beat Rawlins County 53-40, and Hoxie defeated Dighton 58-41.
Oura Chester (5' 8" Sr.) earned a stick-back basket for Quinter in the early moments of the contest. Jesse Baxter's free-throw and an assist from Connor Keller to K.C. Krien soon gave the Indians a slim lead. Quinter's Gordon Wolf (5' 9" Sr.) added a fast-break basket to return the lead to the Bulldogs. Jesse Baxter's baseline jumper was answered by a post-move basket by Connor Havalas (6' 4" Sr.). It appeared the teams were going to exchange baskets all night; and for the most part, that's what would happen. An assist from Baxter set up a Krien score; Krien's assist led to a Brady Dinkel trey on the next St. Francis possession. Chester sandwiched a fast-break basket in between. The first unanswered basket by either team came with just over two minutes left in the first period. Dinkel's right-wing trey in transition gave St. Francis a 13-8 advantage and triggered a Quinter time-out at 2:15. The Indians then added their third consecutive basket on a pass from Keller to Richard Johnson. The Indians' lead moved to 15-8. Quinter scored the final two baskets of the first period. St. Francis led 15-12 at the first period horn.
The Indians opened the second period with a steal-two by Brady Dinkel. After a Havlas post score, an assist from Colton Neitzel led to a right-elbow score by Jesse Baxter. Quinter's Jaden Boone (6' 3" Fr.) added a nice post-move basket before a steal-two by Connor Keller. Baxter's driving score was answered by driving score by Boone on press offense. When Conner Havlas completed a scoring drive moments later, the Indians took a time-out at 2:17 leading 23-20. After returning to action, Baxter scored on a stick-back and then added a free-throw. Kasen Ostmeyer (6' 0" Jr.) contributed the final basket of the first half; a trey. The Indians still held their slim three-point lead (26-23).
Brady Dinkel scored on a drive (plus one) to begin the second half. Three back-to-back baskets by the Bulldogs; two from the post by freshman Jaden Boone, and one by Connor Havlas tied the score at 5:40. Dinkel followed with two free-throws and Jesse Baxter nailed a shot in the lane. With the addition of two free-throws by K.C. Krien, the Indians led 35-29. The advantage was about to disappear. Havlas added a post basket and was fouled on the play. Though Connor missed the bonus shot, Ostmeyer grabbed the errant free-throw and scored. When Havlas scored from the post again, the score became tied at 35-all with 1:25 left in the third. On the next Bulldog possession, Havlas scored in the lane to give Quinter a two-point advantage. The Indians needed a basket; and they got two. On the next St. Francis possession, Baxter scored from the left wing. Brady Dinkel followed with a buzzer-beater trey to complete the quarter. St. Francis led 40-37.
Only two baskets were scored in the first half of the final quarter; a basket in the lane by Quinter's Jaden Boone and bucket by K.C. Krien (assist Connor Keller). At 4:06, Quinter used a time-out trailing 42-39. Returning to action, Keller found Dinkel on a cut to the goal. Havlas soon answered from the post. It would be the final score for the Bulldogs. Brady Dinkel added two free-throws, a basket on a cut through the lane (plus one), and a driving score after a steal by Keller. St. Francis defeated Quinter 51-41.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Brady Dinkel with 25 points. Jesse Baxter added 15. Others scoring for the Indians included K.C. Krien 8, Connor Keller 2, and Richard Johnson 2. The Indians made 10 of 13 from the line, committed 17 turnovers, and had only 7 fouls.
Quinter was led in scoring by post-man Connor Havlas with 18 points. Jaden Boone chipped in 10 and Kaden Ostemeyer 7. The Bulldogs were 0 of 2 from the line, had 12 fouls, and committed 16 turnovers.
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