Santa Fe picks up tough I-70 road wins

CONCORDIA -- After a sluggish start to each half, the Santa Fe boys' basketball team commanded the later frames of Tuesday's 56-49 I-70 Conference victory at St. Paul.

The Chiefs led 9-6 after the first quarter, but tallied 20 points during the second quarter -- getting three-pointers from seniors Ross Heimsoth and Andrew Smith, along with sophomore Keaton Graf -- for a nine-point halftime lead.

The Saints erased all but one point from their deficit with a 17-9 third period behind a pair of bombs from junior Isaiah Roepe.

Junior Andrew Curry struck from outside early in the final stanza for Santa Fe, which got three buckets from senior Ben Nienhueser and went seven for seven from the free-throw line to nail down the win.

Senior Seth Dahlke paced St. Paul (7-6, 0-2 I-70) with a game-high 14 points.

The Chiefs (9-4, 2-0) got 12 points, five assists and three steals from Curry, with four other players scoring eight or more points. Santa Fe will play next week in the Wildcat Classic at Slater.

Sweet Springs 68, Otterville 63

SWEET SPRINGS -- Senior Colby Dohrman scored 29 points and pulled down 14 rebounds as Sweet Springs claimed a 68-63 non-conference overtime decision from visiting Otterville.

Dohrman had five points as the Greyhounds won the extra frame, 11-6, senior Christian Stetzenbach and sophomore Jeffery Hall both helping out by sinking a pair of free throws.

Senior Paul Oswald tallied nine points during the first half as the Eagles took an 11-point lead into the break, but Sweet Springs rallied during the second half with 39 points -- 13 from Dohrman and 10 from Hall, who finished with 17 points.

Oswald led Otterville (11-4) with 21 points, junior Ryan Benny adding 16 points.

Sophomore Jacob Schowengerdt had 16 points and senior Christian Stetzenbach dished out six assists for the 'Hounds (7-5), who have an I-70 Conference tilt Friday at third-ranked Lone Jack.

Girls

Santa Fe 57, St. Paul 54

CONCORDIA -- A game that was close throughout was decided on overtime Tuesday, as freshman Lexi Smith's five points in overtime led the Santa Fe girls to a 57-54 I-70 Conference decision at St. Paul.

Junior Marissa Brackman had six first-quarter points to stake the Lady Saints to a 13-9 lead, but the Lady Chiefs battled back and took a one-point edge into the fourth period.

While Brackman and junior Devon Heins combined for 15 points down the stretch for St. Paul, the visitors made five of eight free throws to send the game into the extra frame.

Brackman topped all players with 20 points and Heins contributed 19 for the Lady Saints (7-6, 0-2 I-70).

Sophomore Brooke Barnett racked up 16 points off the bench to go along with Smith's 15 for Santa Fe (8-5, 2-0), which has won four straight.

Otterville 43, Sweet Springs 36

SWEET SPRINGS -- Sophomore Stephanie Oswald came off the bench to score 10 points during the fourth quarter Tuesday, leading Otterville to a come-from-behind 43-36 non-conference win at Sweet Springs.

The Lady Eagles trailed by two points heading into the final frame, but got two buckets each from Oswald and senior Amy Oleynik and converted nine of 14 free throws. For the game, Otterville enjoyed a 21-7 advantage over the Lady Greyhounds in charity shots.

Oleynik scored 13 points and senior Tori Schoen provided a dozen for the Lady Eagles (14-1).

Sophomore Christina Higgins paced Sweet Springs (3-10) with 13 points.