Beckett Williams Has Final Word; 29 Point Outburst Hands Hawks Winning Season

Reserve guard Beckett Williams made a hustle play at the final buzzer to leave the final word on Gilman City’s regular season as the boys clinched a winning season with a 69-54 win over Polo. Gilman City set up a three-point try designed for Dustin Ward in the right corner. But the try went astray, and following a wild scramble, Beckett grabbed it, whirled around in one motion, and banked a 3-pointer home at the final buzzer. Beckett had been earning more and more playing time down the stretch, and it paid off in the end.

The Hawks dug themselves into a 3-8 hole to start the season, but a win over archrival Tri-County jumpstarted it, and the hunger was always there. The team was young, but there were numerous players who couldn’t wait for the first practices to start and who would come to the gym after junior high games were over to scrimmage and play pickup games.  Gilman City would catch fire, taking third in their home tournament and riding a six-game winning streak to the finals of the HDC Tournament before losing twice in a row to state-ranked Braymer. The Hawks needed to win Thursday night to ensure itself of a winning season.

Polo came into the game at the tail end of a long season, in which they dug themselves into a 5-15 hole. But they caught fire recently, winning three out of their last four and scoring 64 or more points in three of them. They featured a good post game and mixed up man to man and a 1-3-1 defensively.

The teams started off blow for blow. First, Kyle Kipping’s putback put Polo up 6-3 early. Then, Camden Griffith found some driving lanes open to put the Hawks back up 7-6. Lucas Crews countered with a drive, as did Lukas Ritter to put Polo up 10-7. Jace Estrada ripped away a rebound out of a green shirt’s hands, gave it to Mason Preston, who aired it out to Alex Young for two. Kyle Kipping countered with a three-point play, but Camden Griffith slashed and scored and Mason Preston went coast to coast to tie the game at 13, but Walker Kelley’s free throw put Polo back in front 14-13 after one.

Kyle Kipping sealed and scored for Polo to start the second, but Mason Preston got a monster stuff of a three and went coast to coast, where he was fouled and converted the three-point play to knot it at 16. The game was knotted at 18, but then the Hawks moved ahead to stay, although the Panthers were not far behind until the last few minutes.

Bo Eads and Camden Griffith posted up and scored to make it 22-18. Polo kept hanging around, but Griffith went on one of his scoring bursts, scoring nine straight Hawk points at one point before Jace Estrada was fouled at the buzzer and made one of two to put the Hawks up 30-24.

Polo switched to their 1-3-1 and it took Gilman City a while to adjust, but Camden Griffith kept hitting to keep them ahead. Polo twice cut it to four before Griffith hit a reverse layup and Mason Preston got loose in transition to make it 40-32 before Lucas Crews hit a guarded NBA three at the buzzer to make it 40-35.

Gilman City switched to its 1-2-2 to start the fourth quarter, and it paid immediate dividends as Mason Preston jumped a pass and scored and drew a foul. He missed, but Camden Griffith stole an outlet pass. He missed, but Jace Estrada was there for the putback to make it 44-35.

Walker Kelley kept crashing the boards and scoring for Polo, and Canon Thompson launched a deep three to keep Polo close, and Kyle Kipping got a putback and a three-point play to cut it to 51-45. Mason Preston launched a three and Camden Griffith got loose in transition, only for Canon Thompson and Lucas Crews to launch threes to bring Polo back to within 56-51.

Finally, Polo had to start fouling and their legs gave out at the end as they had played a tough game the night before. Camden Griffith hit four free throws down the stretch, Mason Preston two, and Jace Estrada got loose in transition to put the Hawks up 64-51. Gilman City subbed freely at the end, and the reserves kept up the pressure with Dustin Ward hitting two free throws and Beckett Williams making his play at the end.

Camden Griffith had 34 points for the Hawks. Mason Preston had 17, Jace Estrada 7, Beckett Williams 3, and Jackson Alldredge, Alex Young, Bo Eads, and Dustin Ward 2.

Camden Griffith had 2 blocks and Jace Estrada 1.

Jace Estrada had 10 boards. Mason Preston had 9, Camden Griffith 7, Jackson Alldredge 4, Dakota Meringa 3, Bo Eads and Alex Young 2, and Dustin Ward and Beckett Williams 1.

Mason Preston had 8 assists. Camden Griffith had 4, Bo Eads 3, and Jackson Alldredge and Alex Young 1.

Camden Griffith had 8 tips and Mason Preston 3.

Camden Griffith had 5 steals. Jace Estrada had 4, Mason Preston 2, and Dakota Meringa 1.

 

 

Hailey McClure Paces Lady Hawks; Gilman Matches School Record

Hailey McClure scored 16 points Thursday, the most she has scored since the Union Star game, when she had 20, and Gilman City matched a school record for most wins in a season with 24 as they beat Polo 64-20. The last time the Hawks won 24 games was during the 2007-08 season, when they were ranked as high as fifth in the state. The Hawks retained their position in the state rankings this year even after suffering their first loss of the season.

The Hawks needed help up and down the lineup as Khloey Sperry sat for much of the game due to foul trouble. Up stepped McClure with her best night of the season since the Union Star game; Avery Gregg came out of a slump to add 13, and Sperry was still able to help with 14. Six different Hawks scored six or more points in the win.

Polo had beaten Braymer earlier in the year, and the Bobcats played a physical game and played the Hawks tough in the first half the game before. Polo had shown the ability to play good teams tough before; they played North Harrison tough in the Gallatin Tournament. But their legs were done after playing their hearts out the night before to Lathrop, with 16 wins on the season, and falling 67-60.

The game Thursday started off like the Braymer game, with Gilman City completely outplaying Polo, but being unable to score. But then Hailey McClure came up with a steal and drive to break the ice, Alli Burke hit a 3-pointer after Khloey Sperry got a steal, Sperry went to work in the paint and got a pass from Alli Burke and finished after Tenley Griffith kept the possession alive with an offensive board. Khloey Sperry drew a foul in transition and hit two free throws to make it 9-0.

Khloey Sperry added a free throw and then twice got Hailey McClure the ball, and she drove down the left baseline and scored. Sperry picked up her third foul at that point, but Hailey McClure split two defenders and cashed in with a free throw, and Avery Gregg got an offensive board and cashed in twice at the line to make it 17-5 after one.

It was an adjustment for the Hawks to play without Sperry in the second quarter, and Keegan Howell drove and cut the Panther deficit to 17-7. Paisley Taggart came off the bench and knocked down a baseline shot, and Tenley Griffith got a tip and Avery Gregg got a steal, feeding Tenley for the finish for the Hawks’ only four points of the first five minutes. But then they found their chemistry as Avery Gregg hit a 3-pointer, Paisley Taggart got loose in transition and got a pass from Avery Gregg for two, Avery Gregg knocked down a shot in the high post after getting a pass from Alli Burke, Alli Burke went coast to coast, Alli Burke aired one out to Avery Gregg, who found Hailey McClure for a finish, and Avery Gregg got a steal at the end of the first half. She was leveled as she was going up, but somehow got it away to Paisley Taggart for two to give the Hawks a 34-7 halftime lead.

Hailey McClure, Avery Gregg, and Tenley Griffith all had four in the third period and Khloey Sperry managed to get five minutes in before picking up her fourth foul, adding three as Gilman City continued to pull away, leading 51-16 after three and triggering the running clock for the fourth. Sperry finally managed to last the whole fourth quarter, scoring six while Hailey McClure added three more.

Hailey McClure had 16 points for the Hawks. Khloey Sperry had 14, Avery Gregg 13, Tenley Griffith 8, Alli Burke 7, and Paisley Taggart 6.

Alli Burke had a career high in blocks with 5. Khloey Sperry had 3, and Tenley Griffith, Paisley Taggart, and Hailey McClure had 1.

Alli Burke had 13 boards, matching a career high. Hailey McClure and Tenley Griffith had 9, Avery Gregg 8, and Khloey Sperry and Paisley Taggart had 7.

Avery Gregg had 12 assists, completing a double-double. Khloey Sperry had 6, Alli Burke 4, and Hailey McClure and Tenley Griffith 2.

Avery Gregg had 8 tips. Paisley Taggart had 5, Tenley Griffith 4, Alli Bruke 3, Khloey Sperry 2, and Hailey McClure 1.

Avery Gregg had 6 steals. Khloey Sperry had 5, Alli Burke 4, Tenley Griffith 3, Hailey McClure 2, and Paisley Taggart 1.

 

Alli Burke Grabs 13 Boards, Tenley Griffith 19 Tips; Lady Hawks are HDC Tri-Champs

Gilman City had trouble hitting the broadside of a barn in their 54-20 win over Braymer Tuesday night, February 17th. They were getting good looks, but everything was going astray against the Bobcats in an unfamiliar gym against a physical team. They needed to turn to defense and rebounding to keep Braymer off the scoreboard long enough to pull away. Alli Burke stepped up with a career-high 13 boards, continuing a rise in the rebounding charts that fueled the Hawks’ run to the HDC Tournament Title. She and Khloey Sperry shared rebounding honors, and the team grabbed 49 and only gave up five offensive boards against a team with three good post players.

Tenley Griffith set a record for tips for any player we’ve covered, getting 19. Despite all the missed shots, the Hawks continued to swarm on defense and chase after every rebound, and the team had 48. It was only a matter of time before the Hawks pulled away, which they did in the second half. The previous recordholder was Kristin Herndon (North Nodaway) during the 2018-19 season, when she got 17 against Nodaway-Holt.

With the win, Gilman City became HDC conference champions along with Mercer and Grundy County. Gilman City beat Mercer, Mercer beat Grundy County, and Grundy County beat Gilman City, and all three teams beat the rest of the field to set up the three way tie. It was Gilman City’s second straight title.

The Hawks were completely outplaying the Bobcats during the first quarter, but somehow, it was Braymer who was ahead when Khloe Rogers hit a 3-pointer to make it 7-5. The missed shots kept coming, but finally, Khloey Sperry hit a free throw to cut it to 7-6, and Gilman City put on a surprise press and Avery Gregg got a steal and cashed in at the free throw line to make it 8-7 after one.

Tenley Griffith, who had been working on a baseline jumper, got one to go down and Khloey Sperry followed with an inside shot over the tall Bobcat post players, only for Kimsley Bryers to bank home a three to cut it to 12-10. Gilman City finally got some separation as Khloey Sperry finally got going inside to get six and Avery Gregg got a putback as the Hawks pulled away to a 20-14 halftime lead. But Braymer was still hanging around.

Finally, Khloey Sperry started carrying the team on her shoulders, getting herself going with a 3-point play and drawing Nevaeh Scott’s third foul. She got a pair of putbacks, then Alli Burke cashed in on a steal, Avery Gregg cashed in on another, Scott picked up her fourth foul, and Hailey McClure got on the board with a triple to make it 34-16. Gilman City had only three people in the scoring column in the first half, and finally started to pull away when they started getting everyone else involved.

Abby Smith broke the run with a putback for Braymer, but the Bobcat foul trouble continued to mount and McClure cashed in at the free throw line, going three of four to make it 37-18. Khloey Sperry cashed in off an Avery Gregg steal and Tenley Griffith got a putback and turned a steal into a free throw to make it 42-18 after three.

Khloey Sperry carried the Hawks to start the fourth as she cashed in off a steal and a third-chance putback and added a free throw to make it 47-18. Tenley Griffith had a free throw, Alli Burke slashed and scored, Eliza Alldredge hit a tough shot from the baseline, and Avery Gregg aired it out to Hailey McClure for two at the end.

Khloey Sperry had 26 points for the Hawks. Tenley Griffith and Hailey McClure had 8, Avery Gregg 6, Alli Burke 4, and Eliza Alldredge 2.

Khloey Sperry had two blocks.

Alli Burke and Khloey Sperry had 13 boards. Hailey McClure had 10, Tenley Griffith 6, Paisley Taggart 4, Avery Gregg 2, and Pyper Taggart 1.

Avery Gregg had 7 assists. Khloey Sperry, Hailey McClure, Tenley Griffith, Alli Burke, and Paisley Taggart had 1.

Tenley Griffith had 19 tips. Avery Gregg had 12, Alli Burke 9, Paisley Taggart 4, Khloey Sperry 3, and Hailey McClure 1.

Tenley Griffith had 8 steals. Avery Gregg had 6, Alli Burke 5, Khloey Sperry and Hailey McClure 3, and Eliza Alldredge and Paisley Taggart had 1.

 

Jensen Davis Hangs 28 on Linn County as Shamrocks Complete Sweep 72-48

Jensen Davis hung 28 points on Linn County Tuesday, February 17th as the North Harrison boys completed the sweep of the Mustangs and made the long trip back to Eagleville worthwhile. North Harrison had every reason to fear the Mustangs, which had two bigs and who were swarming to the offensive glass all night, collecting 21 offensive boards. But it was the Shamrocks who jumped out on top early as Wyatt Maize slashed and scored, Jensen Davis hit the first of many triples and added a backdoor layup, and Wyatt Maize got loose in transition to make it 9-4.

Nathaniel Singleton’s free throws cut it to 9-6, but then North Harrison’s pressure defense kicked in more and more as the night progressed, and the Mustangs threw numerous wild passes down the floor.

Gage Fortner picked up two fouls early, forcing North Harrison’s two bigs, Ethan Henson and Andrew Craig, on the floor together, but they hooked up as Henson hit Craig backdoor for two. Jensen Davis kept hitting, getting loose in transition and hitting another three. Wyatt Maize drove and floated, drawing a foul and hitting two free throws. Wyatt Maize got a tip and Andrew Craig got a steal, feeding Jensen Davis, who found Maize for two to make it 21-8 and forcing Linn County to burn their second timeout of the quarter.

Singleton hit his second triple of the quarter for the Mustangs, but Ryker Fortner countered with a free throw, Wyatt Maize got a steal and drive, and then Jensen Davis got a steal and threw behind the back to Wyatt Maize, who took it to the house to make it 26-11 after one.

The avalanche continued in the second as Jensen Davis cut inside and got a pass from Gage Fortner, who returned to start the period. Davis connected with two free throws. Wyatt Maize handed one off to Ryker Fortner, who was feeling it and launched a deep 3-pointer that went in to make it 31-11.

The big men went to work for Linn County and got a putback to cut it to 31-13, but Gage Fortner exploded to the rim after Wyatt Maize got him the ball and Wyatt Maize got a steal and drive to make it 35-13. Kolby Livingston countered with a triple for Linn County, but Ryker Fortner got a putback and then Wyatt Maize got a tip and Gage Fortner got a steal, feeding Jensen Davis for two. Jensen added a triple after a pass from Maize to make it 42-18.

Avery Phillips did all he could for the Mustangs during the next stretch, crashing the boards hard, drawing fouls, and slashing to the rim at will. He scored the next ten Mustang points in a span that stretched to the end of the half and into the third quarter as Linn County kept it at 50-28 early in the third.

But Gage Fortner started a big Shamrock run with a free throw as the Mustangs started getting in foul trouble trying to get the ball back. Jensen Davis hit a 3-pointer, Ryker Fortner slashed and scored after getting a pass from Maize, and then Wyatt Maize went coast to coast for two. Maize’s putback made it 59-28 at the 3:47 mark of the third.

North Harrison started getting sloppy and playing like they were down 30, leading to a pair of Mustang steals that cut it to 59-32. But Jensen Davis broke the run with a triple and added a three point play to give North Harrison its largest lead of the night at 65-32. They led by 33 on three other occasions and triggered the running clock before subbing freely down the stretch.

Jensen Davis had 28 points. Wyatt Maize had 25, Ryker Fortner had 9, Andrew Craig 5, Gage Fortner 3, and Landon Johnson 2.

Andrew Craig had 2 blocks and Dustin Hamilton 1.

Andrew Craig and Wyatt Maize had 6 boards. Gage Fortner had 5, Jensen Davis 4, Dustin Hamilton 3, Ryker Fortner 2, and Ethan Henson, Jacoby Ballard, and Meric Hansel 1.

Wyatt Maize had 11 assists, one short of his career high of 12. The school record is held by Brandon Craig, who had 14. Jensen Davis had 5, Ryker Fortner and Gage Fortner had 3, Ethan Henson 2, and Andrew Craig 1.

Wyatt Maize had 7 tips. Ryker Fortner had 6, Gage Fortner 3, Jensen Davis 2, and Dustin Hamilton, Andrew Craig, and Landon Johnson 1.

Wyatt Maize had 6 steals. Ryker Fortner and Jensen Davis had 3, Gage Fortner and Andrew Craig 2, and Dustin Hamilton 1.

 

Caleb New Narrowly Misses Triple Double as Tigers Avenge PV Loss

Caleb New narrowly missed a triple-double and Worth County brutally avenged its loss to Platte Valley earlier in the season, beating them 66-36 Thursday. He had 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, two shy.

It was not a good sign for Platte Valley when six different Tigers got into the act scoring in the early going. Ryder Smyser got a putback and Brock Healy aired one out to Caleb New and got it back in transition for three to make it 5-0. Andy Mattson got a carom and scored and Grady Gockel added a 3-pointer to cut the PV deficit to 7-5, but then Cole Ruby, Brock Healy, and Caleb New hit threes in rapid succession to make it 16-5. Platte Valley’s run to the Stanberry Tournament finals was a distant memory as frustrated skipper Tyler Pedersen burned two timeouts in rapid succession. But then Brayden Combs, who had scored 10 points all season for the Tigers, grabbed an offensive board and scored at the first quarter buzzer to make it 19-7.

Platte Valley did all it could to try to get it into Andy Mattson, who was much taller than anyone Worth County had. But Worth County would swarm the post anytime he tried to catch it down low and got several steals that way.

Grady Gockel did all he could in the second quarter to keep his team close, making one tough shot after another and ripping off nine in rapid succession to keep it at 29-18. But then Brock Healy got the hot hand late despite Platte Valley’s best effort to contain him, and he hit two triples late to put the Tigers up 35-21 at the half.

Platte Valley could take solace in the fact that they had been there before and had come back; they erased a halftime deficit against the Tigers and had won the first time. But Caleb New then got the hot hand and went backdoor off a pass from Ryder Smyser. Brock Healy added a pullup, and then Dylan Smith went coast to coast and hit Caleb New for two, and then Caleb hit a pullup to make it 43-26. Grady Gockel cut it to 43-28, but then Brayden Combs got a putback, Caleb New went coast to coast and found Jordan Dannar for two, and Cole Ruby hit a tough shot in the high post to make it 49-30 after three.

Dylan Klamm hit a 3-pointer early in the fourth and Gockel kept getting on the line, but Worth County got shots from Ryder Smyser, Cole Ruby, and Caleb New to pull away to a 56-35 lead. It was obvious Platte Valley didn’t have it as one of their players dropped an easy pass out of bounds at one point. Platte Valley went to its vaunted press, which has won them countless games under Pedersen and Tim Jermain. But Worth County shredded it as Cole Ruby pushed it ahead to Ryder Smyser, who converted a three point play. Brock Healy hit Caleb New backdoor, and then Platte Valley threw in the towel.

Jordan Dannar scored from inside after Brayden Combs got him the ball, and then Brayden Combs got a career high when he knocked down a triple at the end.

Caleb New had 18 for the Tigers. Brock Healy had 17, Cole Ruby 10, Ryder Smyser and Brayden Combs 7, Jordan Dannar 4, Dylan Smith 2, and Ethan Lininger 1.

Jordan Dannar had 1 block.

Caleb New had 10 boards. Jordan Dannar had 7, Ethan Lininger had 4, Dylan Smith had 3, Ryder Smyser, Brock Healy, and Mason Hiatt 2 each, and Cole Ruby and Tucker Fletchall had 1 each.

Caleb New had 8 assists. Cole Ruby had 5, Brock Healy 3, Ryder Smyser 2, and Jordan Dannar, Dylan Smith, Brayden Combs, and Tucker Fletchall had 1.

Jordan Dannar had 5 tips. Caleb New and Brock Healy had 4, Cole Ruby 3, Ryder Smyser 2, and Ethan Lininger and Tucker Fletchall had 1.

Caleb New had 4 steals. Cole Ruby, Ryder Smyser, and Jordan Dannar 3 each.

 

Kristen Tracy, Audrey Runde Lead Balanced Tiger Attack Over Platte Valley

Worth County’s girls survived a shaky first half and adjusted to life without Kambree Briner (shoulder) as they overcame a swarming Platte Valley press and won on the road 43-35 Tuesday, February 17th.

The first quarter started off well as Audrey Runde knocked one down from the high post, Rylee Ruckman got loose against the press for two, and Kristen Tracy aired one out to Keira Hardy for two to make it 6-3. Platte Valley lobbed it into the post to cut it to 6-5, but Megan Tracy hit a circus shot which bounced off the pole and in to spark the Tigers. Kristen Tracy added two free throws and Keira Hardy, who provided a needed spark in Briner’s absence, knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 14-5.

But a lapse on defense, where Mya Wray went coast to coast and blew by three Tiger defenders as time was winding down, sparked them to start the second. Hannah Klamm continued the Platte Valley run with a triple to start the second, and all of a sudden, it was 14-10. Worth County fell back into the bad habits that nearly cost them against East Atchison, forcing one pass after another and speeding up instead of slowing down against the relentless Platte Valley press.

Megan Tracy cashed in on a steal to put Worth County to make it 16-10, but little else went right as Platte Valley chipped away, getting to within 16-15 after Mya Wray slashed and scored with 31 seconds left. But Audrey Runde provided the spark Worth County needed, grabbing a putback and sticking it back in at the first half buzzer, making it 18-15.

Worth County pulled away in the second half by taking much better care of the ball, turning it over four times in the second half after turning it over 12 times in the first. Megan Tracy started the scoring with a 3-pointer, and then Megan Tracy grabbed an offensive board, got it to Keira Hardy, who fed Kristen Tracy for two to make it 23-15. Platte Valley got a putback to cut it to six, but Audrey Runde went coast to coast, Kristen Tracy knocked one down from the high post, Audrey Runde and Rylee Ruckman hit triples, and Kristen Tracy scored from inside to give Worth County a 35-22 lead late in the third.

But then Hannah Klamm threatened to take over for Platte Valley, going to the rim at will during the next stretch, scoring the next seven points for Platte Valley. Worth County bent, but didn’t break this time as they started running the clock out with five minutes left and chipped away from the line to keep Platte Valley from getting close. Platte Valley got as close as 38-30, but free throws from Megan Tracy and Kristen Tracy made it 40-30 with 1:22 left.

Klamm fouled out down the stretch, but Platte Valley kept coming, finally getting it down to six with 21 seconds left after Mya Wray slashed and converted a three point play to make it 41-35. But Kristen Tracy answered with two free throws with 17 seconds to ice the game.

Audrey Runde and Kristen Tracy had 11 points each. Megan Tracy had 9, Rylee Ruckman 7, and Keira Hardy 5.

Kristen Tracy had 3 blocks and Megan Tracy 2.

Megan Tracy had 12 boards. Rylee Ruckman stepped up in Kambree Briner’s absence, grabbing 10. Kristen Tracy had 9, Audrey Runde 5, and Keira Hardy 2.

Keira Hardy had 5 assists. Kristen Tracy had 4, Megan Tracy and Audrey Runde 2 each, and Rylee Ruckman 1.

Kristen Tracy had 5 tips. Rylee Ruckman had 4, Megan Tracy 2, and Keira Hardy and Audrey Runde 1.

Rylee Ruckman had 4 steals. Kristen Tracy had 3, and Audrey Runde and Megan Tracy had 2.