B-Team Wins; Advances To Final Rounds
A-Team Loses to Wallace County
The Northwest Kansas League Junior High Basketball Tournament began on Thursday, December 19 in Atwood. Both of the junior high team competed in first round action on Thursday afternoon. The Indian B-Team defeated Greeley County 32-30 to advance to the semi-final and final rounds of the tournament to be held on Saturday, December 21. The b-Team Indians will play Rawlins County at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday in the Rawlins County High School Gym. The A-Team was defeated by a strong Wallace County team 12-53 and thus their season has ended.
St. Francis received 6 points from Lucas Raile in the first period, but trailed 6-10 after one quarter of play. Seventh grader Jesus Chanez scored 8 in the period for Greeley County. Neither team scored much in the second period, and St. Francis trailed by three at halftime, 13-16. Jesus Quezada scored four of the Indians' second quarter points.
Joel Gilliland chipped in four of the Indians; 6 third quarter points, and the Indians held Greeley County's third quarter total to 5. However, the young Indians still trailed 17-18 at the third quarter break. In the final period, Greeley County added 12 points, their largest total for any period in the contest. The Indians earned a basket by Gilliland and a trey by Raile for their only field goals. Raile also added 10 of 10 from the free-throw line (good shooting at any level) to give the Indians the victory. Wallace County made a trey with approximately 30 seconds remaining to tie the contest, but Raile's last two free throws sealed the contest as the clock expired. St. Francis defeated Greeley County 32-30.
Lucas Raile scored 22 points to lead all scorers. Others scoring for St. Francis were Joel Gilliland 6 and Jesus Quazada 4. Greeley County received 11 from Joshua Valenzuela (8th) and 10 from Jesus Chanez
St. Francis lost to the number-two seeded Wallace County Wildcats in A-Team action. Wallace County used pressing defense through three quarters to dominate the young Indians. Wallace County scored 14 points in the first period and 13 in the second to lead 27-2 at halftime. Though the Indians fought hard they just did not have enough to keep pace with a very good Wildcat team.
The Indians fared much better in the second half scoring 10 points, but lost by a lop-sided margin, 12-53.
Indians scoring in the A-Team game were Cris Espino 5, Jordan Smull 3, Asher Robbins 2, and Dawson Rose 2. Wallace County was led by 8th grader Evan Pierce with 16 points. Tharyan Applehans (8th) added 10.
