Season Ends In Subdistrict Title Game

Kimball 53,

Bayard 45

In the Bayard game, we started the game off strong taking an early 11-3 lead but late in the quarter we gave them too much space on the perimeter and they took advantage by knocking in 3 consecutive three pointers to go into the 2nd quarter tied 12-12.

The 2nd quarter was a little better, getting out on defense and holding Bayard to only 2 points the entire quarter and taking the 26-14 lead into halftime. The 3rd quarter then started with our opponent going on a 7-0 run to shrink our lead to 5 only to see us take back the momentum by going on a 12-2 run of our own and go up by 15 points.

That was short lived though as Bayard once again put together a 7-0 run again and with us scoring the last bucket of the quarter we were fortunate enough to take a 10 point lead into the 4th.

Once the 4th quarter started Bayard hit a quick three pointer only to see us respond with a Bransyn Kiefer 3 pointer from the corner off an inbounds play. The last quarter saw more of a back and forth, basket for basket game with us coming out in the end with the 53-45 victory.

Highlights for the Bayard game included Brandon Paxton’s Double-Double of 18 points and 11 rebounds along with 4 blocks and a 1.22 vps rating.

Kyler Lusche also had a Double-Double of 17 points and 13 rebounds along with 2 blocks, a 60% eFG%, going 5/7 from the line, and a vps rating of 1.37. 

Bransyn Kiefer had one of his strongest games of the season putting up 8 points on 50% shooting from behind the arc and 57.1% eFG%, a 2.0 AST/TO ratio, and a vps rating of 1.36. Braxton Miller added 6 points, 7 rebounds,  5 assists, 2 steals, and took 1 charge for a vps rating of 1.71.

Ryker Behrend added 2 points, went 100% from the line, and added 3 rebounds. Trevor Fuss added 2 points on 1/1 from the field and added 4 rebounds. Wyatt Cords added 1 assist, 1 rebound and 1 steal to finish it off.

 Gordon-Rushvill 71,

Kimball 41

In the sub-district championship game versus Gordon-Rushville we started off strong offensively but struggled getting stops defensively. We came out in a helping man defense that I think surprised them at first as we were able to take an early 6-5 lead.

However, they started screening more with their big guy in which we did not have an answer for. They eventually went on a 10-0 run to push the lead to 6-15. To end the quarter we both were able to put 6 more points on the board to go into the 2nd quarter down 12-21.

Unfortunately we saw our opponents go on another 10-0 run in the middle of the 2nd quarter and they would eventually take a 20-37 lead into halftime. After matching 3 point baskets by both teams to begin the 3rd, the remainder of the quarter then went to Gordon-Rushville finishing on a 12-3 run and taking the 26-52 lead into the final quarter.

In the final quarter we put up a fight but were once again outmatched 15-19 for a final score of 41-71. Give our players credit, though. I thought that of the three times we played a tough, experienced senior ladened Gordon-Rushville team that this one was the best we played. We knew we would have our hands full but decided to roll the dice and come out in a man defense to take them by surprise and tell them right away that we were not going to back down to any team.

Our spirit was high and we saw a lot of great passing and decision making out on the court. Eventually our communication got louder and it helped when trying to keep a great team in check.

Highlights in the Gordon-Rushville game include the teams 51.3% eFG% and 63.6% shooting inside the arc.

Kyler Lusche had his 16th birthday this evening and added 13 points on 6 of 10 shooting and 5 of 6 (83.3%) inside the arc on his way to a vps rating of 1.29.

Brandon Paxton was just one rebound short of his 12th double-double with 12 points and 9 rebounds along with 2 assists, 1 block, and a vps rating of 1.26.

Braxton Miller went 3/3 inside the arc and 1/2 outside for a total of 9 points and 90% eFG%. He also added 6 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1 block on his way to a vps rating of 2.17.

Ryker Behrend added 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 block. Trevor Fuss added 2 points while Bransyn Kiefer added 2 assists and 2 rebounds. Wyatt Cords added 1 assist, 1 rebound and 1 steal as well for our team.

Unfortunately for us the season came to end February 23rd. However it was an exciting season that saw a lot of growth and experience come to our team. The players all wanted to contribute to the team’s success and learned just how their individual skill sets could make the most difference when putting self ambitions behind the team’s needs.

This season the players were taking direction well and went a long way to building that trust, between each other and the coaching staff, that it takes to be a successful team.

Coach Tjosvold and I really thought the world of our players and their efforts and can’t wait to see what is in store for this team next season!!