Indians show tons of improvement in first two games of year
BROKEN BOW - Last season, it wasn’t until Jan. 30 that the Broken Bow boys basketball team was able to pick up their first victory of the season. This year, the Indians didn’t have to wait near as long, earning a 53-41 win over Arcadia-Loup City on Dec. 4, and then losing 36-32 on Dec. 5 to D1 No. 5 North Platte St. Patricks.
“I thought we were better prepared for Game 1 this year and that is a testament to our core group of leaders on the team,” Broken Bow head coach Nathan Olson said. “Our defense was solid and it helped to go on a 14-0 run at one point in the game to allow us an opportunity to win.”
In the first quarter vs A-LC, it was the Indians who got out to a 6-3 lead thanks to a layup by Riese Kahnk. The Rebels were able to answer right back and tie the game up with a three-pointer by Vince Eurek.
A-LC kept the momentum going with a jumper by Drew Lewandowski and a driving layup by Jadyn Scott.
At the end of the first quarter of play, the Rebels led 15-13.
“The positive takeaways from last night were our ability to create for each other to get open shots, as well as our press, gave them a few fits every now and then,” A-LC head coach Aaron Habe said. “The biggest thing was our effort, I was pleased with the way we got up and down the floor all game, something we weren’t very consistent with last year.”
The Indians were on the board first with a layup inside by Kahnk in the second. Jadyn Scott was able to come right back and earned a bucket of his own for the Rebels.
Probably the biggest basket of the game came with under ten seconds to go in the half. Up 21-18, Austin Harvey was able to drain a three in the corner to give Broken Bow its first two-possession lead at 24-18.
To start the third quarter, the Indians continued to build on the momentum they gained at the end of the first half. Kahnk was able to make three straight transition layups to put Broken Bow ahead 32-18.
Clayton Dethlefs was able to knock down a three for A-LC and Jadyn Scott found Vince Eurek under the hoop for a tough layup. Despite their best efforts, the Rebels found themselves outscored in the third 17-10.
Keegan Baxter was able to drive the Indians home in the fourth quarter with six points inside.
The leading scorer for Broken Bow in the game was Harvey with 17 points, followed closely by Kahnk with 16. Earning 11 rebounds underneath was Baxter for the Indians and Dylon Baum picked up 10.
For A-LC, Vincent Eurek had 13 points and Jadyn Scott had 11. Scott also led the team in rebounds with 12 and Lewandowski had five.
On Friday, Broken Bow traveled to North Platte to take on a state tournament team from a season ago in the Irish. The Indians put up a valiant effort, but in the end, found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard in a four-point defeat.
According to head coach Nathan Olson, this game would have been different if Broken Bow could have rebounded a little better. Moving forward this is one aspect of the game the Indians definitely look to improve upon.
“If we secure more defensive rebounds, the result of this game is different,” Olson said. “We gave up too many offensive rebounds resulting in NPSP getting second-chance points. Our defense was good all night, we just needed to finish those possessions with rebounds.”
Next up for Broken Bow is a game versus Minden at home on Dec. 11. The Whippets are currently sitting at 0-2 after an 81-42 loss to Ogallala.
“I think our defense is coming along, but we have got to get better at rebounding,” Olson said. “We are starting to see the game better as well. We are an unselfish team and this is something that can carry us to where we want to get.”