Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First

Wildcats fall behind early in loss to Indians

Things looked good briefly early on for Banner County before Minatare took control for the rest of the game.

The visiting Indians quickly erased a 4-0 deficit as they went on to defeat the Wildcats, 59-40, on Saturday night. Minatare ended the first quarter on a 22-2 run.

Kadan Huber and Tyson Dahlgrin started the game with back-to-back layups as the Wildcats went up 4-0. The Indians dominated the remainder of the first quarter. They rolled off 11 consecutive points, wrapped up by a pair of Chance McAllister free throws with 3:39 left in the opening quarter, for an 11-4 lead. Huber's fast break bucket broke up the run and cut the Banner deficit to 11-6, before Minatare answered with another 11-0 run to end the quarter with a 22-6 lead.

The Wildcats stabilized things in the second quarter and got a big offensive output from Huber. The senior opened Banner's second quarter scoring with a three-pointer, followed by a Dahlgrin bucket and a Bryce Olsen free throw to make it a 26-12 game. Huber added another shot from downtown and a layup with 24 seconds left in the half as Banner trailed 32-17. The Wildcats outscored the Indians 11-10 in the second quarter.

The third quarter was all Minatare as the visiting team put the game away. The Indians outscored the Wildcats 18-6 in the frame and ended it on an 8-0 run.

Huber led the team offensively with 20 points.

Score by quarter

Minatare 22 10 18 9 - 59

Banner 6 11 6 17 - 40

Points

Kadan Huber 20, Tyson Dahlgrin 6, Bryce Olsen 5, Cresencio Castillo 4, Michael McKown 3, Cole Carey 2.

Crawford 38, Banner County 31

A third quarter rally put Banner County on top, before Crawford came back in the fourth quarter to win, 38-31, last Friday.

The Wildcats trailed 24-17 at halftime when they rallied in the third quarter for a 26-24 lead. Crawford outscored Banner 14-5 in the fourth quarter to come back for the win.

Dahlgrin had a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Wildcats.

Score by quarter

Banner 6 11 9 5 - 31

Crawford 12 12 0 14 - 38

Points

Tyson Dahlgrin 13, Kadan Huber 6, Michael McKown 6, Bryce Olsen 3, Cresencio Castillo 3.

Rebounds

Tyson Dahlgrin 13, Kadan Huber 7, Bryce Olsen 7, Michael McKown 5, Dalton Jordan 2, Cresencio Castillo 1.

Assists

Kadan Huber 3, Michael McKown 3, Dalton Jordan 1, Cresencio Castillo 1.

Steals

Michael McKown 4, Kadan Huber 3, Cresencio Castillo 1, Tyson Dahlgrin 1.