Pierce Bluejay Basketball
Varsity Jays Beat Bobcats for First Win of Season
by Angelica Volquardsen
The Pierce varsity boys’ basketball team competed against Hartington/Newcastle on Saturday, December 9, in Hartington. The Jays beat Hartington for their first win of the season with a score of 59-37.
In the first quarter, starting off the Jays was Braydan Waldner with a basket. Carson Oestreich followed with a basket for another two points for the Jays. Waldner then made a basket followed by a free-throw. C. Oestreich scored another basket with Taylor Oestreich following with a three-pointer. Jadon Magdanz and T. Oestreich made two free-throws, ending the first quarter with the Jays ahead and a score of 18-9.
Waldner made two more free-throws keeping the lead for the Jays coming into the second quarter. He then made another basket, followed by Wyatt Neitzke with one free throw and Dalton Freeman with two. Waldner then made two more baskets followed by another basket from T. Oestreich to end the second quarter with the Jays ahead 31-21.
In the third quarter, contributing to the Jays’ total were Waldner and T. Oestreich. Waldner made four baskets in total and a free-throw, and T. Oestreich made two three-pointers in the third quarter to keep the Jays ahead 46-35.
In the fourth quarter, Waldner continued to shoot the lights out as he made another four baskets totalling. Freeman made two free-throws, followed by a three-pointer made by T. Oestreich. With the defense allowing only two points from the Bobcats, the Jays took home the victory 59-37.
Coach Mike Emory said, “I thought we attacked their man and zone defense well. Defensively, we need to get into our gaps and not give up back cuts. We also need to mentally be able to put the whole picture together on both ends of the floor.”
The next varsity boys’ basketball game will be held on Friday, December 15, at Columbus Scotus.
Varsity Boys Take on BCNG
by Rhayna Waldner
The varsity Bluejays took on the Boone Central/Newman Grove Cardinals on Friday, December 8, at home. After a close game, the Jays lost by a last-second shot, leaving the final score at 37-40.
The first quarter of the game was low-scoring for both teams. The Jays were able to score five points. The points all came from Braydan Waldner who scored a three-point shot and a basket worth two. The Jays stayed strong on the defensive end this quarter and allowed the Cardinals to score only three points.
Still struggling offensively in the second quarter, the Jays scored six points. Taylor Oestreich was able to get off a three-point basket and shot worth two, and Waldner sank a free throw. Allowing the Cardinals to score 11 points, the Jays trailed going into halftime 11-14.
Coming out of halftime strong, the Jays put up 12 points on the board. T. Oestreich made a two-point shot along with two free throws, and Carson Oestreich made three two-point baskets. Waldner also made two more free throws. Letting the Cardinals score only eight points, the Jays headed into the final quarter ahead 23-22.
In the final quarter of the game, the Jays stayed strong offensively and scored 14 more points. T. Oestreich made another three-point shot along with a basket worth two and a free throw, and Dalton Freeman put in two free throws. Waldner also made two two-point shots and two free throws. Despite playing a close game, the Jays lost on a last-second shot with the final score ending up at 37-40.
The varsity boys’ next game will be held in Columbus against the Scotus Shamrocks on Friday, December 15.
JV Boys Defeat Hartington
by Montana Ruppert
Playing on the road, the JV boys’ basketball team beat Hartington/Newcastle on Saturday, December 9, where they won 35-6.
In the first quarter, the Jays outscored the Bobcats. Cater Rohrich had two free throws and a two-pointer, and Dalton Haase and Dawson Watts each scored two points.
In the next quarter, Pierce put up nine to Hartington/Newcastle’s one point. Jakob Edins scored two points, Kage Heisinger scored two points, Chaden Roth scored a free throw and a three-pointer, and Watts made a free throw.
In the third quarter, Pierce continued to dominate, outscoring the Bobcats 16-5. Gavin Larson scored two three-pointers and a two-pointer, Weston Neitzke made one free throw, Edins scored two points, Carter Rohrich scored a free throw, Haase scored two points, and Roth scored two points.
The teams played only three quarters, so the Jays came out victorious 35-6.
Coach Tim Walder said, “We did a lot of good things. Our offense and defense were executed very well. We had many opportunities to attack different defenses and stop Hartington from scoring.”
The next JV boys’ game will be Friday, December 15, at Columbus Scotus.
JV Bluejays Soar Over Cardinals
by Morgan Crist
Pierce’s JV boys’ basketball team defeated the Cardinals by a score of 32-24 on Friday, December 8, at the home of the Bluejays.
The Cardinals started out with the ball in the first quarter but managed to score only eight points before the second quarter began. Pierce came in hot with their first shot of the night being a three scored by Dalton Haase. Gavin Larson kept the heat with his own three-point shot and was followed by Dawson Watts’ two-pointer. Making his second three-pointer of the night was Larson again, while Kage Heisinger followed with a free throw. This finished off the first quarter with the Jays ahead 12-8.
In the second quarter, the scoring died down a little for both teams. Pierce scored two points with one shot made by Watts, and then Tyler Race followed suit with his own two-pointer. The Cardinals followed closely behind in points with three being added to their score. This put the half time score at 16-11, Jays.
Starting the second half, the team’s matched each other’s scoring as both put up seven points. Watts was the first Bluejay to score in the third quarter with two two-point shots. Kage Heisinger contributed his own two point shot, followed by a successful free throw made by Watts. This finished the quarter with the Jays up 23-18.
In the fourth and final quarter, Pierce put up 14 points while BCNG put up just six. David Dale kicked off the Bluejay scoring with a successful free throw, followed by Larson with a two-point shot. Shooting his last three of the night was Larson again, while Watts followed with another three-point shot. Jumping onto the three point train was Haase, who then followed his shot up with a two-pointer to put the final score of the game at 37-24.
Coach Tim Waldner said, “Defensively we played pretty solid and then offensively we executed really well for the second half of the game.”
The JV boys will hit the court again on Friday, December 15, against Columbus Scotus on the road.
Freshman Boys’ Basketball Team Victorious Over Braves
by Angelica Volquardsen
Pierce High’s freshman boys’ basketball team competed against the Battle Creek Braves on Thursday, December 7, at home and defeated the Braves with a score of 46-29.
In the first quarter, the Jays jumped out to a lead of 12-5. Contributing for the Jays were Dawson Watts with six points and David Dale with six points as well.
In the second quarter, the Jays allowed the Braves 10 points but scored a whopping 19 of their own. Logan Moeller scored a three-pointer starting off the Jays, followed by a basket made by Dale. Moeller scored another two baskets, adding four more points to the board. Watts contributed a shot, followed by a basket and a three-pointer made by Chayden Roth. Ending the fourth quarter with another three-pointer, the Jays were ahead with a score of 31-15 at the half.
In the third quarter, Dale scored a basket for the Jays, followed by two more baskets made by Tyler Race and Watts. With the Braves putting up 12 points, the third quarter ended with the Jays taking the lead of 37-27.
In the fourth quarter, the Jays put the Braves away, allowing just two points. Watts started off with a basket, followed by a basket made by Roth. Watts then scored a three-pointer, adding points to the board. Mason Sindelar made a basket, ending the fourth quarter with the Jays in the lead and a score of 46-29.
Coach Zach Weber said, “I was very happy with our approach to this game. We came out mentally prepared and jumped on them early on in the game. I was also happy with the way we responded to adversity in the second half. Battle Creek came out hard in the third quarter and pressured us and took us out of our offense, but we fought back.”
The next freshman boys’ basketball game will be held on Saturday, December 16, against Scotus at home.
Freshman Basketball Boys Stomp out HCC
by Rhayna Waldner
The freshman boys’ basketball headed to Hartington to play the Cedar Catholic Trojans on Monday, December 4. After playing a close game, the Bluejays were able to pull out the win 27-24.
In the first quarter, the Jays could not find their stride offensively and only scored a free throw from Dawson Watts. Still holding up well on the defensive end, the Jays headed into the second quarter down 1-5.
During the second quarter, the Jays found their momentum and scored nine points. Tyler Race made a shot worth two, David Dale made two two-point shots, and Watts made a free throw and a two-point shot. Holding the Trojans to seven points, the Jays were trailing slightly at 10-12 going into halftime.
Continuing their success on the offensive end, the Jays scored nine more points in the third. Chaden Roth made a two-point shot, and Logan Moeller made a three. Dale made another bucket, and Watts made two more free throws. Allowing the Trojans to score only five points this quarter, the Jays took the lead 19-17 as the game headed into the final quarter.
In the final quarter of the game, the Jays kept their stride and scored eight points. Dale made a two-point shot and two free throws, and Watts made a two-point basket. Luke Collison also aided the team by making a shot for two. Keeping the Trojans at seven points, the Jays took the victory 27-24.
“I was very proud of our defensive effort throughout the entire game,” coach Zach Weber said. “It kept us in the game when our offense wasn’t clicking. Also, I am very happy with the way that we handled pressure offensively. We were able to get them out of their press early, and that was key to winning the game. Offensively, we were very patient, and we wore the defense down over long possessions, which resulted in good looks at the rim. We still need to work on being strong finishing in the paint.”
The freshman Jays’ next game will be held at home against Columbus Scotus on Saturday, December 16.
