Bulldogs Spoil Indians' Opener
The 2019 St. Francis High School football season was very successful. The Indians finished as the state runner-up losing to Canton-Galva in the State Championship contest. However, the extended football season placed a toll on the preparation for the basketball season as the Indians only had a couple days of practice before basketball competition was underway. Injuries suffered by the Indians in the championship football contest also kept the two most experienced players on the Indian squad from participating in the opening basketball game. Senior Brady Dinkel and junior Jesse Baxter did not play in the contest.
A well-coached Quinter squad arrived on Friday, December 6, ready to play. Neither team scored in double digits in the first period, and the Indians led 8-6 at the first-quarter break. Indian Adam Krien and talented Bulldog sophomore Jayden Boone (6' 2") each scored 6 points in the opening period.
St. Francis only scored 6 points in the second period receiving field goals from Krien, Josiah Sims, and Cutler Mayer. St. Francis' 6' 4" postman, Colton Neitzel did not play in the period due to early foul trouble. With Neitzel's intimidating presence absent from the contest, Boone added 9 more to his personal total in the period. Quinter out-scored the Indians 6-14 in the second quarter to lead 20-14 at halftime.
Though the Indians fought valiantly, the margin gradually increased as the contest progressed. The Bulldogs led by 10 points (22-32) at the third quarter break and won the contest 33-49.
Jayden Boone led all scorers with 32 points in the contest. Boone scored 13 points in the final period alone. Collin Thielen (6' 0" Jr.) added 9 points for the Bulldogs. Quinter made 4 of 13 from the stripe and committed 16 fouls.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Adam Krien with 13 points. Josiah Sims added 8. Others scoring for St. Francis included Preston Witzel and Ben Busse (5 each) and Cutler Mayer (2). The Indians only made 3 of 10 from the stripe and had 12 fouls.
The Indians will play Golden Plains in the opening round of the Sagebrush Classic Tournament in Brewster on Monday, December 9. The game will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. in the North Gym at Brewster High School.
