Hornets win out in home court games

Fans were treated to some up-tempo and exciting high school basketball with the hosting Pine Bluffs Hornet teams winning out over the visiting Kimball High clubs this past week. Both the girls and boys contests were close with the Lady Hornets winning out 49-46 and the Pine Bluffs boys winning 76-70.

Coach Chauncey Pedersen knew his Lady Longhorns were going up against a very good Pine Bluffs club that had only one loss on the season coming into the Tuesday night game. The Lady Horns were also without their top scorer as senior Danika Daum was out with a serious foot injury suffered in the semi-final game of the Western Trails Conference Tournament.

Kimball jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after Madison Biesecker hit a free throw and Alex Reader nailed a 3 pointer but Sierra Shelit connected on a pair of treys and Pine led 11-6 at the quarter break, then outscored Kimball 18-5 in the second period to take a 29-11 lead to the half time locker room. On top of the large half time margin, Kimball had three starters with 3 fouls each and coach Pedersen had people sitting on the bench that he would liked to have had on the court .Things looked bleak for the Kimball ladies and their fans.

The Lady Horns may have been down, but certainly not done as they came out in the third period and after giving up a quick basket to trail by 20 points, and then 22 points, out scored the Lady Hornets 21-12 in the third quarter to trail 52-41 going into the final quarter of play. They continued their come back efforts in the fourth quarter and closed to within 48-46 with :42 seconds remaining on Biesecker’s 17 footer and Kimball got one final shot that was deflected as time expired. While the hosts won the first half, and the game, Kimball won the second half out scoring Pine 35-20. An exciting finish between two talented teams.

Pine Bluffs won the battle of the boards with 38 rebounds to 21 for Kimball. The Hornets had 14 fouls, were 9/18 at the line, 2/5 on 3 point attempts, and 17/44 on 2 point field goals. They were led in scoring by Kammie Ragsdale and Azhane Bufford with 13 points each, Jadyn Golding with 9 including 1 trey, Sierra Shelit 6 with 1 trey, Montanna Chrystal 6, and Melissa Fornstrom with 2.

Madison Biesecker had a big game for Kimball with a game high 18 points including 2 treys and had a double-double with 11 rebounds, plus 3 assists. Alex Reader hit 3 treys and had 13 points. Kate Reader had 6 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 assists and 1 block. Kai1ey Dickerson had a trey for 3 points, Arica McCloud, Hannah Biesecker, and Myriah Tyan all with 2 points each.

Final team stats for Kimball showed them with 19 fouls, 13 turnovers, 9 offensive and 12 defensive rebounds, 11 steals, 9 assists, 1 blocked shot, 8/14 at the foul line, 6/25 on 3 point attempts, and 10/28 on 2 point field goa1 tries.

Coach Pedersen commented after the loss, “At least the girls learned they can play with the good teams and hold their own even though we don’t have Danika in our lineup.”

Pine Bluffs 11 18 12 8 – 49

Kimball 6 5 21 14– 46

Basketball is good in Pine Bluffs this season, and the boys are having the same kind of success as the girls with a loss or two a rarity. Kimball coach Luke Dea knew his Kimball club was up against a tall, and talented, Hornet club, but then “what’s new”. The Hornets build their game around 6’10” junior Hunter Thompson, an all around outstanding high school player who has the ability to do it all, and is surrounded by a very capable group of team mates with talents of their own.

The game opened with Thompson showing off his long range shooting as he swished a trey on the first shot of the game. Kimball came right back to counter with a trey of their own from 5’7” senior guard Angel Flores. Pine led 20-13 at the quarter break, but Kimball battled hard and outscored the hosts 16-14 in the second period to trail 34-29 at half time. The two clubs battled even the second half with Kimball holding their own despite the huge disadvantage in height and came up short by a mere 6 points (76-70).

Thompson pleased the crowd with several slam-dunks and led all scorers with 26 including 2 treys. The Hornets had 8 players in the scoring columns with Trent Werner netting 3 treys and 15 points, sophomore Haize Fornstrom ended up with 11 and the 6 footer is a great leaper. Chris Fornstrom had 7 with 2 treys, Kyle Steger 9, Kyle Jeffres 4, Hesston Fornstrom 2, and Tucker Norman 2.

Pine Bluffs had 21 fouls, were 13/21 at the foul line, 7/18 on 3 point attempts, 21/44 on 2 pointers, and had 32 rebounds, just 1 more than Kimball.

Kimball had 31 rebounds with 7 offensive and 24 defensive, 23 fouls, 18 turnovers, 11 steals, 9 assists, were 18/28 at the foul line, 10/25 on treys, and 11/32 on 2 point field goals.

Kimball had 3 players in double figure scoring led by Tyler Magninie with 21 including 4 treys and 5/6 foul shooting. Jordan Greenwood had 19 points with 2 treys and was 9/13 at the foul line. Jaden Withrow had 13 points with 1 trey, along with 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 assists. Angel Flores had 9 points with 2 treys, and pulled 6 rebounds, had 3 steals and 2 assists. Trent Rutledge had 5 points with 1 trey, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, and Creg Barker had 2 points and 6 rebounds. Brandon Barker had 1 point.

A great effort by the out-matched Kimball club as they continued to give 100% against a taller opponent.

Pine Bluffs 20 14 23 19 – 76

Kimball 13 16 22 19 – 70