Bluejay Basketball
Bluejays Fall to Riverside
by Angelica Volquardsen
Pierce’s varsity boys’ basketball team hosted Riverside on Saturday, December 3. The Jays lost in overtime with a score of 55-58.
In the first quarter, starting off the Jays with a lay-up was Braydan Waldner. Jadon Magdanz then shot a basket, adding two points for the Jays. Waldner scored four more buckets for the Jays in the first, and with Riverside slightly outscoring Pierce, the first quarter ended with the Jays behind 12-14.
The Jays had a strong second quarter offensively, scoring 20 points to Riverside’s 11. Waldner started things off in the second quarter with two free throws, following with a layup to add two more points to the board. Taylor Oestreich then made a three-pointer to aid the Jays’ efforts. Waldner sank two more baskets, and Magdanz went up for a lay-up, adding two more points to the board for the Jays along with two free-throws. A flurry of baskets made by Waldner ended the second quarter with the Jays ahead with a score of 32-25.
Riverside then outscored the Jays in the third to close in on Pierce’s lead, putting up 14 points and holding the Jays to 11. Waldner scored a basket to start the Jays in the third quarter. T. Oestreich then sank two free-throws, followed by a basket made by Carson Oestreich. Waldner sank another shot for two points for the Jays, followed by a three-pointer made by T. Oestreich to end the third quarter still ahead of Riverside 43-39.
In the fourth quarter, Riverside managed to the tie game, scoring 11 points and holding the Jays to 7. Waldner made a basket along with a free-throw, and Magdanz and Gavin Larson each made a shot adding four points on the board. With the game tied at 50, it went into overtime. Waldner then made a basket, followed by a three-pointer, but with Riverside putting up eight points, the Jays were left with a loss of 55-58.
The next varsity boys’ basketball game is at home against Boone Central/Newman Grove Friday, December 8.
Varsity Boys Take On Howells-Dodge
by Angelica Volquardsen
In their first game of the season, the varsity boys’ basketball team played on the road against Howells-Dodge on Thursday, November 30. The Jays fell with a final score of 41-53.
In the first quarter, the Jays jumped out to an early lead, outscoring the Jaguars 16-11. Contributing for the Jays were Taylor Oestreich, Gavin Larson, and Braydan Waldner, who scored three-pointers to aid the Jays. Wyatt Neitzke also made a basket for the Jays, along with Jadon Magdanz, who hit two shots scoring four points. Carson Oestreich added a free-throw, ending the first quarter with the Jays ahead 16-11.
In the second quarter, T. Oestreich made another three-pointer and a basket to give the Jays another five points. Waldner also scored a basket, along with three free-throws for another five points for the Jays. T. Oestreich ended the quarter with a free-throw, and with the Jaguars matching the Jays’ 11 points, Pierce went into halftime up 27-22.
In the third quarter, the Jaguars outscored the Jays by one, as Pierce put away a total of seven points in the third to stay slightly ahead. The points were scored by Magdanz, who made a basket for two points for the Jays, and Waldner, who hit three free-throws and another basket. After three, the Jays were still ahead 34-30.
Despite starting the fourth quarter with a lead, the Jays ultimately were bested by the Jaguars. Pierce scored another seven points courtesy of Larson, who made a three-pointer, and Waldner, who made two baskets. But with Howells-Dodge putting up a whopping 23 points, the game would end with the Jays down 41-53.
Coach Mike Emory said, “I thought we competed hard for four quarters, and now we know what we need to go back and fix for the upcoming games.”
The Jays’ next game will be played at home against Boone Central on Friday, December 8.
JV Boys Crush Riverside Chargers
by Angelica Volquardsen
The JV boys’ basketball team dominated Riverside on Saturday, December 3, at home with a score of 57-1.
The players contributing to Saturday's score were Dawson Watts with 17 points, David Dale with 8 points, Logan Moeller also with 8 points, and Weston Neitzke with 8 points. Chayden Roth scored 5 points, Kage Heisinger scored 4 points, Dalton Haase made 3 points, and scoring 2 points were Carter Rohrich and Tyler Race.
The next JV boys’ basketball team game will be against Boone Central/Newman Grove at home on Friday, December 8.
JV Boys Fall to Howells-Dodge
by Angelica Volquardsen
The junior varsity boys’ basketball team fell to Howells-Dodge on Thursday, November 30, with a close score of 30-31.
In the first quarter, Carter Rohrich started off the Jays’ scoring with a basket worth two, along with a free throw for another point. Dalton Hasse scored a three-pointer, and Gavin Larson lit up the scoreboard with three three-pointers before the end of the first quarter to bring the Jays ahead with a score of 15-8.
In the second quarter, the Jays were outscored by the Jaguars 6-9. Kage Heisinger scored two points for the Jays, and Tyler Race and Weston Neitzke each made two free throws to help maintain the lead, ending the second quarter with a score of 21-17.
In the second half, the Jays scored a total of nine points, while the Jaguars took the lead, scoring 14. Scoring for the Jays were Larson, Race, Neitzke, and David Dale all with two-point baskets, and Race also with a free throw. Despite having the lead for the first half, the Jays fell 30-31.
Coach Tim Walder said, “The game was pretty typical, ugly at times and some nice things at times. We had chances to win but didn’t execute them. I’m happy with the effort they put in.”
The next junior varsity basketball game will be on Saturday, December 9, at Hartington High.
