Tough Week for BB boys basketball

CUSTER COUNTY- The Broken Bow boys basketball team had a tough week of competition losing two games in overtime during the Southwest Conference Tournament. The first loss came at home to Gothenburg 60-58 on Jan. 27 and the second was a 69-65 loss to Ainsworth on Jan. 28.

Against the Swedes, the Indians were given a home game entering the Southwest Conference Tournament as a two seed. Despite the ranking, Broken Bow knew they were in for a tough contest, after beating Gothenburg in overtime, not even a week before their second meeting.

Keegan Baxter and Dylon Baum got the offensive going for the Indians with back to back buckets to start the game. Following

that up with a layup off a turnover was Baxter to make it 6-3 in favor of Broken Bow.

The Indians led by five late in the first after Frazier Kaelin made a layup while being fouled. Gothenburg cut the lead down to 13-11 by knocking down a corner three.

It was Baxter once again doing work on the glass to begin the second. His rebound underneath resulted in a second chance layup making the score 17-13 Broken Bow.

Leading by five after a three-point play by Riese Kahnk the Swedes ended the quarter on a 10-4 run to take a 37-32 lead into halftime.

Gothenburg picked up where they left off in the third. A corner three for the Swedes put them ahead 34-26.

Needing baskets the Indians looked to two of the leaders on the squad in Blake Denson and Daine Wardyn. The pair both made three’s on back to back possessions to trim Gothenburg’s advantage down to 37-32.

Another three-pointer by Denson marked an 8-0 run for Broken Bow and tied the game up at 37 apiece.

Trailing 39-37 heading to the fourth, it took no time for Baxter to erase that deficit with a three. A jumper by Denson around the free-throw line put the Indians in front 47-45.

Late in the game, Broken Bow was trailing by four when Denson got a layup driving to the hoop. A three by Baxter with under ten seconds was off the mark, but rebounded and put in for two points by Denson.

With the score of 5353, the Swede’s final shot

attempt was taken away after the Indians forced a turnover, sending the two teams to overtime for the second time in less than a week.

This time Broken Bow was not as fortunate, losing by two after a perfectly drawn up play resulted in an easy layup for Carson Rhodes as the clock ran out.

“Our guys are fighters and even in tough times, they never give up,” Broken Bow Coach Nathan Olson said. “The guys battled hard and almost did enough to win that game. I was proud of their effort throughout the game.”

Leading the Indians in scoring was Baxter with 17 points and Denson and Harvey each with ten points.

After a tough loss the previous night, the Indians earned a matchup with Ainsworth for fifth-place at Gothenburg High School. Broken Bow beat the Bulldogs at Ainsworth 73-49 in their prior matchup back on Dec. 18.

The game was even throughout the first half with the Indians trailing 30-29 heading into halftime.

A high scoring third quarter of action ended with Broken Bow outscoring the Bulldogs 20-17. Entering the final frame the Indians led 49-47.

Ainsworth did just enough in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 50-50. In overtime, they outscored Broken Bow 9-5 to secure the win.

Dylon Baum was the leading scorer for the Indians with 14 points. Also finishing in double figures was Harvey with 12 points and Denson with 11 points.

Despite losing two overtime games, the Indians are looking at these losses as growing opportunities to help them the rest of the season.

“With those tough losses, I think our guys will grow from it,” Olson said. “Continuing to drill the little things every day and focusing on the process, not the outcome will lead toward opportunities for success.”

Broken Bow played at Lexington on Feb. 2 and then have a home game vs Ogallala on Jan. 6.