I-70 Conference Tournament: 'Hounds hold on for third

Junior Tyler Dohrman's steal and lay-up with 1:10 to go sealed the win for the Greyhounds. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

SWEET SPRINGS -- After jumping out to a 15-0 lead, the Sweet Springs boys' basketball team lurched its way to a 66-62 victory over St. Paul in Saturday's third place game of the I-70 Conference Tournament.

Junior Zach Thomas knocked down a pair of three-pointers during the Greyhounds' game-opening run, the visitors not getting on the scoreboard until junior Jordan Bredehoeft followed a blocked shot with a bucket with 2:41 remaining in the first quarter.

The gap remained roughly the same until junior Nick Peeples twice got inside midway through the second period to make it 27-8, but the Saints scored seven straight points and trailed by only eight at halftime.

St. Paul chipped away at its deficit coming out of the intermission, ending the third quarter with senior Miles Hamilton's game-tying bomb. However, the Saints were unable to get the lead during the final frame, which began with a Peeples goal.

Senior Tyler Rennison pulled up at the elbow to sink a jumper then took a steal to the rack. Sophomore Brandon Haake's trey closed the gap to 51-47 with 5:08 remaining in the game, but St. Paul didn't make another shot from the field for nearly four minutes.

That's when Peeples took over. The 6-foot-4 forward, taking advantage of the vertically-challenged Saints -- with no player over 6-1 -- made three straight shots. Junior Aaron Schlatweiler broke St. Paul's full-court press with a lay-up to give the 'Hounds an 11-point cushion with 1:58 to go.

Haake made a floater in the lane and two free throws as Peeples fouled out. The Saints had closed to within six points and had the ball when junior Tyler Dohrman made the biggest play of the game, stealing a pass and then taking it the distance, getting the lead back into double digits with 1:10 left.

Despite Haake's three-pointer and two freebies in the final minute, Sweet Springs hung on -- making five of nine attempts from the charity stripe during the final two minutes.

Haake had 21 points and Bredehoeft added 16 for St. Paul (2-2).

Peeples had his second double-double of the tournament with 21 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots. Thomas scored 18 points, Dohrman contributed 14 points and five steals and Rennison dished out 10 assists for the 'Hounds (2-3) -- who play today at Green Ridge.

Girls

Orrick 53, Sweet Springs 41

Orrick used a balanced attack Friday to notch a 53-41 decision over the Sweet Springs girls for third place in the I-70 Conference Tournament.

The Lady Bearcats trailed by two points after one period, but then tallied 34 points during the two middle frames to take an 11-point lead into the fourth quarter -- making seven of 13 free-throw attempts to keep the Lady 'Hounds at bay.

Sophomore Amanda Rodenberg scored 12 points and junior Megan Swartz had 11 for Orrick (2-1), which saw six players tally five or more points.

Sweet Springs was paced by senior Stephanie Krause's 16 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. Junior Kristin Jones added 10 points for the Lady 'Hounds (2-3), who were plagued by 36 turnovers.

St. Paul 55, Santa Fe 49

Despite a 23-point fourth quarter, the Santa Fe girls were unable to climb out of the hole in which they had buried themselves Friday during a 55-49 loss to St. Paul in the consolation final.

The Lady Chiefs were behind by 15 points heading into the last stanza, when they got 11 points each from senior Dani Heimsoth and junior Lauren Aversman -- the team shooting 13 of 20 from the free-throw line. That was better than the Lady Saints' six of 11 from the stripe, but not enough to make up the deficit.

Senior Tory Kramer led St. Paul (2-1) with 15 points and senior Ashley Brackman had 10, including a pair of three-pointers.

Heimsoth topped all scorers with 22 points and Aversman added 19, but Santa Fe got only eight points from everyone else. The Lady Chiefs (3-2) are scheduled to host Lexington today.