Bluejay Basketball
Varsity Bluejays Fall Against the Panthers
by Autumn Hanna
The varsity boys basketball team traveled to Sioux City for the CNOS Classic on Friday, January 10. The Bluejays went up against the Bancroft-Rosalie-Lyons-Decatur Panthers and lost 28-55.
In the first quarter, the Bluejays followed closely behind the Panthers ending the quarter 13-14. Rolling into the second quarter, the Bluejays were still behind by only four. The Bluejays scored seven more points during this quarter, compared to the Panther’s 10. The ending score before halftime was 20-24.
After halftime, the Bluejays slowed down making only six points. The third quarter score ended as 26-39. The Bluejays made a total of two points in the final quarter. The final score for the game was 28-55.
Leading the team in points was Gavin Larson with 11 points. Dawson Watts and Dalton Freeman both made seven points each. Larson, Freeman, and Carson Oestreich all had one assist each for the night. With 100% free throw accuracy for the night was Watts and Benjamin Brahmer. The field goal percentage for the night was just 24%.
Head coach Michael Emory comments on the game, “I thought we competed well for a half, we just need to find a way to score more consistently."
Varsity Boys Take Down the Kings of the Jungle
by Madi Hamm
The Pierce High Bluejays swept David City Aquinas with a score of 41-35 on Thursday, January 9.
In the first quarter the Bluejays scored 12 points. Following that they made 9 points in the second quarter, eight points in the third quarter, and 12 points in the fourth quarter. Dawson Watts led the team in scoring with 12 points. Then Gavin Larson scored nine points, and Ben Brahmer scored six points.
Carson Oestreich responded with “making more shots, and take and run our offense more smoothly” when asked how the team could improve.
When asked what the team did well, Dawson Watts responded with, “We made good hustle plays.”
JV Bluejays Stomp Out Monarchs
by MacKenzie Peters
The JV boys basketball team defeated David City Aquinas on Thursday, January 10, in an away game, ending with a score of 55-31.
During the first quarter of the game, Abram Scholting led the team, scoring five out of the team’s 11 points. Of those, the first was a 3-pointer, followed by a 2-point shot. Luke Collison shot two free throw shots but was only able to sink the second. Mason Sindelar also pitched in during the first quarter by adding a few points by a 3-pointer. The quarter ended with a score of 11-5, with the Bluejays on top.
The Bluejays turned up the heat as they entered the second quarter, where they scored 18 points. Ben Brahmer made three 2-pointers. Scholting also put up some points with two 2-pointers and a free throw. Chaden Roth added five points during the quarter with a 3-pointer and a 2-point shot. Zach Collison also scored a 2-pointer before the end of the half.
The second half started out slow for the Bluejays, who managed to put up just six points. Junior David Dale scored two 2-pointers, followed by L. Collison, who shot and made two free throw shots.
Brahmer led the final quarter for the Bluejays, scoring eight points, all of which were 2-pointers. Tyler Race followed by making two 2-pointers. Chaden Roth, L. Collison and Addison Croghan also all made 2-point shots before the end of the game. With a combined 18 points in the quarter, the Bluejays finished off the game 55-31.
JV coach Tim Waldner was pleased with his team’s performance, saying, “It was a pretty solid game for the first one back after break. Everyone played well at times for not having a game in three weeks.”
The boys JV team will play their next game on Friday, January 17, in the auditorium when they play Hartington Cedar Catholic.
Bluejays Defeat the Warriors
by Madi Hamm
The boys Bluejay C Team headed on the road to face the Crofton Warriors. The Bluejays defeated the Warriors with a score of 34-19.
To start the first quarter the Bluejays scored 12 points. Then, they scored seven in the second quarter. In the second half, they started strong and scored nine points. Ending the game the Bluejays scored six points.
C team coach Zach Weber says, “It was not our best game, but we found a way to lock down defensively and win. We need to limit turnovers and control the pace much better offensively moving forward.”
Freshman Abram Scholting scored 18 points, leading the team. Following him was Freshman Benjamin Brahmer scoring 11 points. Dawson Raabe and Carter Meier both scored two points to help the Jays.
Scholting adds, “We played pretty good, but we probably need to clean up a few things like defense and rebounding, but over all we played well.”
The C team continues their action on Saturday, January 18 at Plainview.
C-team Boys Crush BCNG Cardinals
by Elizabeth Hammer
The boys basketball C team traveled to Boone Central Newman Grove on Monday, January 6, and came home with a victory of 58-23.
Starting on top, the Bluejays scored a total of 22 points in the first quarter while the Cardinals scored seven points.
Going into the second quarter, the boys dropped the heat a little bit and scored 11 points. The Cardinals also scored less and the quarter ended with the Bluejays up 33-13.
After the halftime break, the Bluejays remained on top scoring 11 points with the Cardinals only scoring three total points.
The Bluejays scored a total of 14 points in the final quarter, holding the Cardinals at seven points scored. The game ended with the Bluejays on top and a score of 58-23.
The C team head coach, Zach Weber, said, “I was very happy with our effort. Offensively, we executed well all game. For three quarters defensively we looked really good. I’m looking forward to improving and playing a busy January schedule.”
The C team Bluejay boys will next play on Saturday, January 18, at Plainview.
