Jock Talk

WOW! Hunter Thompson gave basketball fans a look at how a Division One recruit can play the game when his Pine Bluffs boy’s team invaded Kimball this past week and took home an 86-41 victory. It was their 42nd consecutive win by the way, as the Hornets remain undefeated this season at 18-0. The Pine team is fast closing in on the state record for the most consecutive wins in a row.

Back to Mr. Thompson, the 6’10” senior who has signed to play at the University of Wyoming, and who had earlier committed to Creighton. In the first quarter alone he scored 25 points hitting all 6 of his 3 point attempts, had 2 crowd pleasing slams, and did some awesome rebounding and passing. He has the complete game. He can jump. He is a high jumper in track. He ended up with 43 points on the night and could have tallied more had the coach elected to leave him in. By the way, in all of the years I have been around the game, I have never seen a first quarter score of 40-1, but I saw it this game.

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The Pine Bluffs fans showed up big time like they do every year when these two teams play and it is a good rivalry but right now the Wyoming school certainly has the edge, and appears will for a few more years. Both boys and girls are loaded with young talent. The girls have 11 freshman out with 3 listed at 6 foot or taller. Also a 5’11” and several in the 5’8” or taller range when you throw in the sophomore class as well.

One of the Hornets better contributors to the Pine Bluffs Basketball program is the Fornstrom family. There are 4 Fornstrom names on the girl’s roster. I’m not done! There are 8 Fornstrom players on the boy’s roster!

Both the boys and girls are defending state champions and there is a very good chance they will both repeat. If you missed seeing them at Kimball last week, it would be worth the time of any basketball fan to try and catch them at a game somewhere. We wish the Hornets the best of luck.

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This winter sports season is fast drawing to a close as our wrestlers closed out already at last week’s district tournament and the basketball sub-district play is underway this week for the girls and next week for the boys.

The Kimball boys close our regular season play at Mitchell tomorrow (Friday) night with JV game time at 5 p.m. The boys varsity will play in sub-district tournament action Tuesday at Sidney and although not official at this time, it looks like Kimball will face Bayard at 5:30 and Perkins County and Hemingford will play at 7 p.m. The winners then meet next Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Kimball Junior High boys will play this Saturday with the 7th grade in action at Sidney and the 8th grade at Ogallala.