'Hounds debut with two wins

SWEET SPRINGS -- The Sweet Springs boys' basketball team run-and-gunned its way past visiting Malta Bend, 94-25, to begin the season Thursday, while the Lady Greyhounds used their more methodical approach to dominate their Saline County rival, 58-8.

The Tigers tried to hang in there, senior Ryan Armstrong hitting four shots during the first quarter, but the wide-open Sweet Springs attack was too much. The 'Hounds led 27-11 after one frame, by 42 points at halftime and went into the final stanza -- played with a non-stop clock -- ahead 88-22.

Armstrong wound up with a game-high 21 points for Malta Bend (0-2), but the Blue and Gold had five players in double figures -- topped by 15 points each from juniors Tyler Dohrman and Aaron Schlatweiler.

The only major problem for Sweet Springs (1-0) was at the free-throw line -- missing 13 of 15 attempts, despite draining eight three-pointers during the contest.

The Lady Greyhounds didn't have much difficulty, either, although head coach Boyd Jones called the play "ragged." Sweet Springs got six points in the first quarter from senior Stephanie Krause to open up a 17-2 lead, which only grew from there.

Krause finished with 13 points and eight steals and junior Kathleen Tyler knocked down four treys for all of her 12 points to pace the Lady 'Hounds (1-0), who controlled the boards by a 39-10 margin and enjoyed a 25-12 advantage in takeaways.

The Lady Tigers (0-2) had no players score more than two points.

While Sweet Springs has a pair of tough games today at Sacred Heart, Malta Bend hosts Bunceton for a CCAA doubleheader.