Longhorns Outfight The Irish

A disappointing Friday night loss on the road at Sutherland, and a very satisfying win at home Saturday night over visiting North Platte St Pats.

That was the weekend story for the Kimball High boys.

The Longhorns lost 38-30 to the Sutherland Sailors Friday night, but came back with an exciting 49-47 victory over the St Pats Irish Saturday night, leaving them with a record of 5 wins and 10 losses as they head into Western Trails Conference Tournament play that begins this evening (Thursday).

The low scoring loss at Sutherland was a repeat scenario that has happened too often this season for the Horns. They fell behind early trailing 10-2 at the first quarter break,

but came back to outscore the hosts 12-6 in the second period to trail 16-14 at halftime. Kimball won the scoring battle in the third period 7-3 to lead 21-19 going into the final stanza but got shot down 19-9 in the final 8 minute period to come up on the short end of the scoring stick 38-30.

A lot of the blame can be placed to the foul line where the winners were 19 of 27 and Kimball was 5 of 11. That’s a 14 point difference at the charity stripe!

The winners also won on the boards with 36 rebounds to Kimball’s 22. Kimball

was 12/51 from the field for 24% but only 1/15 on 3 point shots for a dismal 7%, and weak at the foul line at 45%.

In other team stats, they charted 3 blocked shots, had 20 steals, 6 assists, 20 fouls, and 17 turnovers. No one in double figure scoring for Kimball with Beau Hanks and Izaac Reuter both high with 8 points. Brendan Walker had 5 with Kimball’s lone trey, Sam Cajero had 4, Brady Kilgore 2, Corey Travis 2, and Brayden Tyan 1.

Hanks was top rebounder with 7 and also led in steals with 6. Reuter was 5 and 5 in both categories. Ryan Richardson led Sutherland with 13 points, Noah Holm had 8, Jade Paxron 7, Bennett Floyd 7, and Peyton Copeland 3.

Coach Luke Dea said, “This was another one of those games we could have, and should have won. We did a good job on defense once again and caused them to have 29 turnovers, but we didn’t shoot very well again. We took 17 more shots from the field than they did, but they shot 27 free throws to our 11.”

Kimball 2 12 7 9 – 30

Sutherland 10 6 3 19 – 38

The fans were treated to an exciting, and well played game from start to finish Saturday, and Kimball put together their best overall game of the season in securing the win

over a well coached St. Pats club.

Kimball coach Luke Dea said, “I went away from using the X and O strategy tonight and

just talked the kids into playing and giving a good effort and it played out well for us.” Kimball held a 12-10 lead at the quarter break with Brayden Tyan and Sam Cajero both hitting treys and Tyan added 2 free throws as well.

At halftime Kimball had increased their lead to 28-23, and a positive was their foul shooting where they had gone 8 for 10. Brady Kilgore netted a pair of long treys

and hit a free throw to lead the second quarter offense for the Horns. Beau Hanks was getting up extra high in his rebounding efforts and doing a big job on defense inside.

The Irish won the third quarter, outscoring Kimball 18-10 to take a 41-38 lead into the final quarter of play and too often this season the Horns have faltered in the final quarter but not this night.

The team play was special for the Horns on this evening. Brady Kilgore fed Zane Anthony with a perfect pass on a break and Zane scored the layin to tie the game at 41-41. The Irish got the margin back to 45-41, but Izaac Reuter set a screen and Anthony answered with a trey to close the gap back to 1 point.

With 1:37 left on the clock, Reuter fed Hanks inside with a beauty of an assist and when Big Beau was fouled making the basket, he hit the free throw to convert an old fashioned 3 point play, putting Kimball back on top 47-45. The Irish netted a long

shot with 54 seconds remaining to tie it at 47-47, but with :26 seconds to play, Reuter stepped to the line for a one and one and calmly nailed both shots – which proved to be the points needed for the win.

St. Pats had possession for the final 17 seconds and tried their best to get the play, and the shot, they needed to win or tie, but the Kimball defense was at their best in preventing that to happen. The men in green got one final off-balance throw at the basket. but the luck of the Irish had ran out on this night. Longhorns win 49-47!

In team stats, let’s start at the foul line where Kimball was 14/20 for 70%. The Horns shot 15/51 from the field for 29%, going 5/17 on 3 point attempts. They pulled 27 rebounds, including 10 offensive, had 2 blocks, 10 steals, 11 assists, 16 fouls and 15 turnovers.

In individual stats, Beau Hanks had a solid night with 11 points, a team high 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Brady Kilgore also finished with 11 points, including 2 treys, and had 4 rebounds. Izaac Reuter had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Brayden Tyan had 7 points with 1 trey and led in steals with 3. Zane Anthony had 5 points and was perfect on the night hitting both of his shot attempts, including a trey. Sam Cajero also had 5 points with 1 trey.

St Pats was 11/15 at the line and had 4 treys and 17 fouls.

They were led by Charles Aufdenkamp with 17 points, Tyler Ferguson with 9, Jack Hess with 8, James Roberts 3, and Nick Niesen 2.

The Kimball boys will move into Western Trails Conference Tournament play that begins this evening (Thursday) and plays No. 2 seed Bayard, at Bayard, with game

time set for 6:30 p.m. The winners of the first round will advance into Friday night play and will get another game on Saturday, with the final two nights to be played at Cougar Palace in Scottsbluff. First round losers are done.

Kimball 12 16 10 11 – 49

St. Pats 10 13 18 6 – 47