Prep Hoops Round-up: Greyhounds get first I-70 Conference victory

SWEET SPRINGS -- Was it joy or relief that led to Sweet Springs boys' basketball fans storming the court Friday following their team's 61-56 I-70 Conference victory over Concordia?

It was probably a little of both: joy in getting a rare victory over the Greyhounds' neighbor to the west, and relief in that they salvaged the win after blowing an 11-point halftime lead.

There was also a mixture of both emotions in the return to action of Sweet Springs junior Billy Martin. The team's leading scorer last year at 15.1 points per game, Martin injured his knee during the football preseason. Although Martin had said in November that he hoped to return by the end of the hoops campaign, head coach Tim Smith a week later wasn't counting on it.

But Martin made it back, and contributed eight points to the 'Hounds' 33-22 advantage at the break.

However, the Orioles charged back with 21 third-quarter points, 10 from sophomore Carter Brown, and kept the momentum going into the final period -- ahead by five points with a minute-and-a-half remaining.

Sweet Springs had a secret weapon, though, in the form of usually light-scoring junior Anthon Smith.

Although he averaged only 1.5 points per game going into the contest, Smith provided 12 points to the victory -- hitting three bombs, the most critical of which cut the 'Hounds' deficit to two points.

Junior Nick Peeples bucket and free throw with 53 seconds left put Sweet Springs back in front -- to stay, as it turned out. Junior Aaron Schlatweiler stole a pass and Smith made one of two from the charity stripe, then junior Zach Thomas made it a two-possession margin with a pair of freebies.

Concordia got off a pair of three-point attempts during the final 22 seconds, but didn't hit either one.

Brown led all scorers with 20 points for the Orioles (5-13, 0-2 I-70).

Peeples had yet another double-double with 17 points and 17 rebounds -- along with five steals and a pair of blocked shots -- for the 'Hounds (10-10, 1-3), who picked up their first league win.

Santa Fe 69, Crest Ridge 38

ALMA -- Senior Ben Catlett's 16 points led 10th-ranked Santa Fe to an easy 69-38 I-70 Conference victory Friday over Courtwarming guest Crest Ridge.

Catlett and sophomore Matt Lovercamp combined for 10 points and senior Taylor Wesley sank three shots during the Chiefs' 19-6 first-quarter blitz. The margin increased from there, to 16 points at halftime and 24 points after three periods.

Sophomore Alex Everhart had eight points for the Cougars (7-11, 2-2 I-70), who were dominated on the boards by a 32-16 margin.

Senior Luke Brandt tallied 13 points and Wesley added 11 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots for Santa Fe (17-2, 4-0) -- which will be on the road Tuesday for a showdown with Wellington-Napoleon, the only other team unbeaten in league play.

Marceline 52, Slater 39

SLATER -- Marceline slowly build a lead and hung on at the end Friday for a 52-39 win at Slater, a clash between two clubs seeking their first Lewis and Clark Conference win.

The Tigers took an 11-point lead into the fourth quarter, but needed to make free throws -- and did, in nine of 12 tries -- after sophomores Levi Thomas and Zack Thomas each hit a pair of shots for the Purple.

Junior Jordan Tibbs scored 13 points and junior Jeff Floray added 12 for Marceline (9-10, 1-4 L&C).

Thomas and Sullivan each wound up with 10 points for the Wildcats (3-15, 0-6).

Girls

Concordia 40, Sweet Springs 34

SWEET SPRINGS -- The Sweet Springs girls shot only 22.4 percent from the field Friday during a 40-34 I-70 Conference loss to visiting Concordia.

The Lady Orioles didn't exactly burn up the nets, except during an 18-point second quarter -- when senior Kelsey Stuart drilled a pair of threes -- to take a 24-17 lead into halftime. However, the Lady Greyhounds managed just 17 points over the final two frames and were unable to make up much ground -- even when Concordia missed five of six free throws down the stretch.

Stuart had a game-high 16 points for the Lady O's (10-7, 2-0 I-70).

Sweet Springs (9-11, 1-3) was led, with eight points each, by senior Stephanie Krause and junior Kristin Jones.

Santa Fe 60, Crest Ridge 57

ALMA -- Sophomore Molly Sander came up big during the fourth quarter Friday as Santa Fe downed long-time I-70 Conference nemesis, 60-57.

Sander scored 12 of her team-high 18 points during the period, which began with the Lady Chiefs trailing by nine points. Sander fouled out, but senior Molly Blomberg added seven points down the stretch to help secure the win.

All of that was needed to counteract the career night turned in by senior Lauren Brockhaus, whose 30 points, 11 rebounds and five steals led the Lady Cougars (8-10, 1-3 I-70).

Blomberg finished with 17 points for Santa Fe (9-10, 3-1).

Marceline 44, Slater 29

SLATER -- Two teams vying for second place in the Lewis and Clark Conference race hooked up Friday in Slater, but only one of them had the look of contender.

Marceline had three players score in double figures, while holding the Lady Wildcats to a woeful 18.9 percent from the field and forcing 20 turnovers, during its 44-29 victory. The Lady Tigers jumped out to a 10-3 first-quarter lead and never had to look back.

Senior Taylor Gladbach had a game-high 12 points and seniors Taylor Frandson and Jordan Ewigman split 21 points for Marceline (14-5, 4-1 L&C).

Junior Niki Kruger's seven points were high for Slater (13-6, 3-3), which will be off a week before Friday's third meeting of the season against Westran.