Bluejay Basketball
Launch the media gallery 1 playerVarsity Boys Victorious Over West Point-Beemer
by Angelica Volquardsen
Pierce’s varsity boys’ basketball team traveled to West Point on Monday, February 12, to take on the West Point-Beemer Cadets. Pierce finished on top with a score of 47-35.
Beginning the game, Pierce started with a good lead, scoring 14 points to the Cadets’ eight. Gavin Larson scored three three-point shots, and Dawson Watts made a two pointer and a free throw. Carson Oestreich also added a two-pointer, and Dalton Freeman made a three-pointer to end the quarter ahead of the Cadets.
In the second quarter, the Bluejays’ fell short to the Cadets, scoring six points to their seven. There was only one scorer for the Bluejays in this quarter, Watts, who made three two-pointers. Even being outscored by one in the quarter, the Jays still led at the end of the half with a score of 20-15.
Starting off the second half, the Bluejays held a good defense, allowing the Cadets to score only five points to their own 14. Larson made a three pointer, Watts made a two pointer, Jadon Magdanz made a two pointer and two free throws, Oestreich made a two pointer and Freeman banked a three pointer to end the quarter with a lead of 14 points. The score of the third quarter was 34-20.
In the final quarter, the Bluejays scored 13 points to the Cadets’ 15, but they had built up enough of a lead to take the win as Watts scored a pair of two pointers and a three pointer, Magdanz made a free throw, and Oestreich made a two-pointer and three free throws.
Coach Mike Emory said, “I was pleased with the way we were able to adjust to West Point changing defenses frequently. On the defensive end, we took them out of everything they wanted to do.”
The varsity boys’ next games were played in subdistricts, which began Monday, February 18.
Bluejays Rally Against GACC Bluejays
by Angelica Volquardsen
Pierce’s varsity boys’ basketball team traveled to West Point on Thursday, February 7, for a battle of the Bluejays against Guardian Angels Central Catholic. After coming back from behind, Pierce came out on top with a score of 49-44.
To start off the game, Pierce’s Dawson Watts made two free throws, and Jadon Magdanz scored a pair of two pointers and a free throw. GACC got out to an early lead after putting up 13 on the Jays, and Pierce ended the quarter behind GACC with a score of 10-13.
In the second quarter, things started to slow down for Pierce as they scored only six points to GACC’s 15. Watts scored two free throws and Magdanz and Carson Oestreich each scored a two pointer, ending the quarter behind GACC 16-28.
Beginning the second half, Pierce held a strong defense and allowed GACC to score only seven points while racking up 17 of their own to catch up. Logan Moeller scored two two pointers, Gavin Larson made a three-pointer and two free throws, Oestreich made a two pointer and a free throw, and Dalton Freeman made a three pointer and a two pointer. The Pierce Bluejays caught up to GACC as they ended the quarter narrowly behind with a score of 33-35.
During the final quarter, the Pierce Bluejays finally grabbed the lead as they scored 16 points to GACC’s nine. Larson scored three free throws, Watts made a pair of two pointers and a free throw, Magdanz made two free throws, Oestreich made three free throws, and Freeman made a three pointer to end the game ahead of the GACC Bluejays with a score of 49-44.
Coach Mike Emory said, “The boys started off slow on both ends of the floor. In the second half, we switched to our 1-3-1 defense and forced them into turnovers, which led to easy baskets for us. I thought we handled the last two minutes of the game well. We took care of the ball and made our free throws. We did not play to the level we need to; however, credit to our guys for playing seven games in two weeks and going 7-0 during that time is impressive.”
The boys’ next game will be on Friday, February 15, against Wayne at Pierce’s home court.
Varsity Boys Take Down Wynot
by Rhayna Waldner
The varsity Bluejays played the Wynot Blue Devils on Tuesday, February 5. Without a struggle, the Jays took down the Blue Devils with a final score of 54-35.
In the first quarter, the Jays put up 12 points. Jadon Magdanz started the Jays off by scoring a shot for two, and following him was Dalton Freeman with a three-point shot and a two pointer. Carson Oestreich also put in two free throws, and Gavin Larson added a three-point basket. The score was close heading into the second quarter as the Blue Devils were hot on the Jays’ tails 12-11.
The Jays took the momentum in the second quarter and scored 14 points while holding Wynot to four. Larson added another three-point shot, and David Dale put in two of his own. Logan Moeller put in two free throws, and Dawson Watts made a shot for two and a free throw. Oestreich and Freeman also added two points each. Going into halftime, the score was 26-15.
Coming out of halftime, the Jays kept their momentum and scored 19 points. Oestreich added two free throws and a two-point shot, and Magdanz put in a free throw and another shot. Larson and Dale added a three pointer and two-point shot, respectively. Watts also contributed to the Jays’ scored by putting in two two-point shots and three free throws. Even with the Blue Devils scoring 12 points in the quarter, heading into the final quarter of the game, the Jays had a comfortable 45-27 lead.
In the final quarter, the Jays put in nine points and held the Blue Devils to eight. Moeller sank two more free throws, Magdanz put in a free throw and a two-point shot, and Freeman added two free throws of his own and another shot. Coming out on top, the varsity Bluejays took down the Blue Devils 54-35 to continue their win streak coming off their conference tournament championship.
“Defensively, we keep executing the game plan well, and offensively we keep finding ways to score points against a variety of defenses,” assistant coach Tim Waldner said. “Wynot played a 2-3 defense the whole time, and it was good for us to to attack that because we haven’t seen that this season really at all.”
The varsity Bluejays’ next game will be played at home against the Wayne Blue Devils on Friday, February 15.
Junior Varsity Bluejays Soar Over GACC
by Kendra Schulz
The junior varsity Bluejays traveled to West Point and defeated Guardian Angels Central Catholic on Thursday, February 7, with an ending score of 60-38.
In the first quarter, Tyler Race started off the Bluejays with a two pointer. David Dale and Luke Collison both scored a pair of two pointers, along with Collison’s three pointer. Chaden Roth scored two free throws to end the quarter. With GACC hot on their tails, the Bluejays were ahead 15-14 after one.
The Jays kept their lead in the second quarter, holding GACC to eight points and putting up 13 with Logan Moeller’s three-point shot, along with a three from Race, as well. L. Collison ended the quarter for the Bluejays, scoring a pair of two pointers and a three to end the half with a score of 28-21.
Coming out of halftime, the Bluejays kept their momentum going. Race shot two baskets, Collison shot a two pointer along with a three, and Shawn Rinkel shot a two pointer and one free throw to end the quarter with a score of 42-30 as the Jays held GACC to seven.
In the final quarter, Luke Collison aided the Bluejays with four two pointers along with Ritter Oestreich and Race with one two pointer, and Roth with one free throw, a three pointer, and a two pointer. With the Jays keeping GACC from scoring more than eight points, Pierce went home with the win by a score of 60-38.
The next JV boys’ game will be home on Friday, February 15, against the Wayne Blue Devils.
JV Bluejays Quell Blue Devils
by Autumn Hanna
The junior varsity Bluejays crushed the Wynot Blue Devils Tuesday, February 5, at Pierce High School. The Jays overcame the Devils with a concluding score of 38-16.
To kick off the first quarter, the Bluejays’ Logan Moeller banked a three-point shot. Chaden Roth then threw up a two pointer into the basket. Moeller then swished another three for the team. Following in Moeller’s steps, Roth hit a three pointer as well. The Blue Devils trailed the Jays by five points with a 11-6 score after one.
In the second quarter, both teams got into an offensive lull as neither put in any points. After being refreshed during halftime, the Bluejays were ready to make up for their second quarter. To start, David Dale lobbed up a two pointer. Dale then got fouled and went to the free throw line to bring in another point. Making two more free throw shots was Shawn Rinkel. Dale threw in yet another two pointer, bringing the score to 18. Adding two more points with a layup yet again was Roth, and Ritter Oestreich bagged two more points. Offensively pushing, Luke Collison acquired five points with one three pointer and one two. Matching L. Collison, Oestreich did the same with a two and three pointer. The Jays amassed 21 points during the third quarter, while the Blue Devils got only four, so the score was 32-10 going into the fourth quarter.
Bringing the game into the final quarter, L. Collison sent a two into the basket. Doing the same was Oestreich adding another two points. And for the final two points, Zach Collison shot a two pointer. The Blue Devils struggled to stop the Bluejays and put in points, and the finishing score was 38-16.
The next Bluejay game will be home on Friday, February 15, at 6:15 against the Wayne Blue Devils.
C-team Bluejays Trounce the Competition
by Autumn Hanna
The Pierce C-team took on Hartington Cedar Catholic and South Sioux City in a tournament on Saturday, February 9, at Hartington Cedar Catholic. Pierce prevailed over both teams with scores of 32-26 against HCC and 43-24 against Sioux City.
The Bluejays played South Sioux City first in the game. In the first quarter, Tyler Race got the game rolling by making a two-point shot. David Dale then made another two, as well as Chaden Roth. Roth followed up with draining a three pointer and yet another two pointer. Pulling in two more points was Logan Moeller to end the first quarter with the Jays in the lead 13-8. In the second quarter, Moeller started it off by stepping behind the free throw line and making two. Roth then made another three. SSC began to close the gap in this quarter, putting up eight points to the Jays’ five. The Jays led by two going into halftime 18-16.
Jumping into the third quarter, Dale threw in a pair of two pointers as well as a free throw. Luke Collison shot a two pointer as well. Race then fired out a shot behind the arc for a three. L. Collison then made two free throws, adding two points, followed by a three pointer. To wrap up the third quarter, Shawn Rinkel made one free throw. The Jays’ defense kept SSC to just four points in the quarter, so the Jays then led 34-20. In the final quarter of this game, Moeller started off with two free throws, followed by Dale making a two pointer. L. Collison then threw up a two. Lucas Gnat shot in a three pointer, and with the Jays holding SSC to just four more points, Pierce won 43-24.
In the second game against HCC, Moeller started strong with a three. Roth then came inside the arc and made a two pointer. Moeller added another three points with a two pointer and a free throw. Collison followed by making another free throw. Roth then drained a two, bringing the first quarter score to 11-7. Race started off the second quarter with making a two. Roth then stepped up and made a three pointer. Rinkel made yet another free throw. The Jays had a strong defensive quarter, allowing only four points, bringing the first half score to 17-11.
In the last half of the day, the Bluejays continued to push on offense and defense, allowing just six points from SSC. Moeller fired up two baskets in the third quarter. Dale then added three points with a two pointer and a free throw to end the third quarter with 24-17 score. The last quarter got rolling with Moeller yet again making a two. Dale then did the same, adding two more points. Roth made his fifth three pointer of the night. And finally, Race made one final free throw to win the tournament and beat HCC 32-26.
The C-team Bluejays’ next game was Friday, February 15, against Wayne. This was their last game of the season.
C-Team Boys Take on Panthers
by Cayce Carlson
The C-Team Bluejays traveled to Norfolk Public on Monday, February 4. The Panthers came out ahead with a final score of 45-53.
During the first quarter, the Jays scored 14 points trailing behind the Panthers’ 19 points. Ritter Oestreich scored a two pointer and a three, and Chaden Roth also hit a three pointer. Luke Collison was able to score two points, and Tyler Race scored four points.
In the second eight-minute period, the Panthers scored four points while the Jays scored six. Roth scored four points, and Mason Sindelar scored two. Going into halftime, the Panthers were on top with a score of 20-23.
Coming out of halftime, the Jays still couldn’t quite catch the Panthers. Race scored a three-pointer and a two pointer, L. Collison scored a two pointer, and Zach Collison scored four points. With the Panthers scoring 12 points, the Jays were down 31-35.
During the fourth quarter, the Jays were able to put up 14 points. Oestreich scored two points, Roth scored another three pointer, L. Collison scored a three-pointer and a two-pointer, Z. Collison scored two points, and Race also scored two points. However, with the Panthers scoring 18 points in the last quarter, the Jays lost with the final score being 45-53.
Coach Zach Weber said, “After we adjusted to the pace of the game, our defense was really good, particularly in the second quarter. Unfortunately, we did not keep that focus and intensity for the whole game.”
The C-Team’s next game will be Friday, February 15, against Wayne at home.
JH Bluejays Conquer the Braves
by Cayce Carlson
Pierce’s junior high basketball teams vanquished the Braves in Battle Creek on Tuesday, February 12, with the A-team winning 43-26 and the B-team winning 38-15.
During the first quarter of the A-team game, the Jays scored ten points. Abram Scholting scored four points. Following in his footsteps, Colby Anderson scored a two-pointer. Ben Brahmer scored two two-pointers. Letting the Braves only score three points, the Jays were up 10-3 going into the second quarter.
In the second eight-minutes, the Jays scored 12 points. Dawson Raabe started the Jays off by scoring a two-pointer. Brahmer was able to score two two-pointers and a free throw. Scholting hit a two-pointer and a three-pointer. The Jays held the Braves to only five points. The score going to the halftime was 22-8.
Coming out of the halftime, both teams scored 11 points. Scholting scored a two-pointer, Tristan Kuehler was able to score a two-pointer, Raabe scored two points, Addison Croghan scored a two-pointer, and Anderson nailed a three-pointer. Going into the last eight minutes, the score was 33-19.
In the last quarter, the Jays were able to score ten points and let the Braves score only seven to seal the win. Scholting scored four points, Brahmer made two two-pointers, and Raabe scored a two-pointer. The final score of the game was 43-23.
The B-team then took the floor. In the first eight minutes of the game, Tristan Kuehler was able to start the Bluejays off by scoring the two points, then hit another two points. Deon Watts put up eight points. The Jays were able to hold the Braves to only three points. Going into the second quarter the Jays were up 12-3.
During the second quarter, both teams scored six points. Kuehler scored a two pointer, and Watts scored two baskets. The Braves managed just six points on the Jays before the quarter ended. Going into halftime, the Jays were up 18-9.
Coming out of halftime, the Jays came out strong, scoring nine points and leaving the Braves scoreless for the third quarter. Kuehler scored two points. Watts also scored two points. Trevin Larson scored one point. Gavin Sullivan scored two-points. Dalton Svoboda scored a two pointer. The score going into the last quarter was 27-9.
In the last quarter, the Jays scored 11 points and held the Braves to six points. Watts scored two points, Larson scored a two pointer, Travis Emory scored a three pointer, and Schuyler Simpson made two buckets. The Jays beat the Braves with a score of 38-15.
The JH Jays’ next game was their last, played on Saturday, February 16, against Hartington Cedar Catholic in Hartington.
JH Boys Vanquish Creighton
by MacKenzie Peters
The junior high boys’ basketball team competed against Creighton on Thursday, February 7, at home. The ending score was 50-17 with the Bluejays coming out on top.
The Bluejays started strong during the first quarter of the game. Tristan Kuehler scored a two-pointer for the Jays. Between Trevin Larson and Gavin Sullivan, eight points were put on the board, as they both made two shots. Deon Watts, the highest scorer of the game, earned seven points for the team, as he made three two pointers and a free throw. With Creighton getting only two buckets past the Jays, the Bluejays ended the quarter with an early lead of 17-4.
During the second quarter, Sullivan and Caleb Newman both scored two points. Michael Holkesvig gave the team a point after making a free throw. Larson and Watts both managed to score five points, each making a two and a three-point shot. The Bluejays were able to hold their lead on Creighton, who scored just three points in the quarter, and they went into halftime ahead 32-7.
Entering the second half of the game, Dalton Svoboda made a two-point shot. Travis Emory was also able to score two points, making both of his free throws. Schuyler Simpson scored three points as he made a two-point shot and a free throw. Finally, Watts scored five points, making a three-point shot as well as two free throws. The Jays continued to dominate the Bulldogs in the third quarter, as they entered the fourth quarter up 44-12.
The final quarter was a slow one for the Bluejays, but they still kept ahead of the Bulldogs’ five points scored in the fourth. Watts, Emory, and Simpson all scored two points during the quarter. With this, the Jays ended the game with a final score of 50-17.
The junior high boys’ next game will be played at Hartington Cedar Catholic on Saturday, February 16.
