Junior High Boys Lose Home Opener
The junior high Indians played Hoxie in their first home contest of the season on Tuesday, November 12. The Indians hustled hard and worked as a team but could not keep pace with the taller and more experienced team from Hoxie. The A-Team boys lost their contest 21-48. The B-Team Indians were defeated in a game at the Grade School by a score of 12-23.
Jordan Smull nailed the first shot of the contest on an assist from Cris Espino. Moments later, Hoxie's large post player Andre Vaughn (8th) tied the game on an offensive rebound basket. A nice post move by Gavin Schippers (8th) gave Hoxie their first lead of the contest, but a post basket by Aiden Fernandez (assist Espino) retied the game at 4-all. After a Hoxie time-out at 2:51, the visitors scored three more baskets in the quarter; all coming in the lane by Shippers.
The scoring pace increased in the second period. Hoxie increased their advantage to 4-15 on baskets by Kane Epp (8th), Ivan Kaus (8th), and Vaughn. After a SF time-out at 3:51, St. Francis added two free throws by Cris Espino and right-wing basket by Dawson Rose decreasing the margin to 10-15. Hoxie added the next three buckets; an offensive rebound by Sam Watkins (7th), a shot in the lane by Noah Dowell (7th), and trey from the corner by Issac Thomas (7th). A free-throw by Rose interrupted the Hoxie run making the score 11-22. Hoxie added three more scores before the first half ended to lead 11-28 at the break.
Hoxie added three more baskets and a free-throw to open the third period. The margin increased to 11-36 on the third basket; a steal-two by Brayden Scheetz (7th). St. Francis' first basket of the second half came on an out-of-bounds play basket by Cris Espino (assist Jordyn Smull). It was quickly followed by a left-corner trey by Smull (16-36). Noah Dowell added three more buckets to Hoxie's score late in the period; two came after Indian turnovers. St. Francis trailed 16-42 after three quarters of action.
Early baskets by Vaughn and Connor Diericks (8th) advanced the margin to 30 points (16-46) and set the running clock in motion. After a steal-two by Kaus, Dawson Rose added a left-wing deuce and Jordan Smull drained another left-corner trey. St. Francis was defeated by Hoxie 21-48.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Jordan Smull (8 points) and Dawson Rose (7 points). Cris Espino added 4 and Aiden Fernandez 2. Hoxie was led by Gavin Shippers (10), Noah Dowell (8), and Andre Vaughn (8).
The Indians will play Wallace County in St. Francis on Thursday, November 14. Tip-offs are set for 4 p.m. The A-Team boys will play in the St. Francis High School Gym after the A-Team girls game. The B-Team will play in the Grade School Gym.
Click on the photos to see more photos!
