Tyler New’s 23 Points Not Enough as NEN Boys Beat Tigers

Both Worth County and NEN started off red hot in the junior high boys matchup Thursday. But whereas NEN kept up the pressure for three quarters, when the game was already decided, Worth County could not keep up the pace and fell 46-30.

Kolten Smith connected early for Worth County, but Chris Kephart had the hot hand for the Bluejays and Ethan Gascoigne and Jadin DeFreece chipped in as the Bluejays jumped out to an 8-2 lead. Tyler New put the Tigers on his back, scoring the next six points for Worth County and taking on four blue shirts to bring his team back to within 10-8. But then consecutive steals from Landon Wilmes and Jadin DeFreece put the Bluejays back up 14-8 with 1:51 left in the first. New took on three defenders to cut it to 18-13 after one at the buzzer.

Northeast Nodaway beat Worth County with balanced scoring, as four of their players had six or more points. They had 13 assists to three for Worth County, while they also outrebounded Worth County 35-23.

The game stayed between seven and nine points for much of the second quarter until Landon Wilmes’ steal put the Bluejays in front 28-17 at the 2:05 mark. Chris Kephart scored on an inbounds pass from Ethan Gascoigne with 10 seconds left to put NEN up 32-20 at the half.

Brycen Kennard and Jadin DeFreece both scored from inside to push the margin to 16 at 36-20 to start the third. Despite Tyler New’s best efforts, Kephart scored six in the period and Landon Wilmes’ drive against three gold shirts and Kephart’s putback early in the fourth gave the Bluejays an insurmountable 46-26 lead with 4:55 left.

For Worth County, Tyler New had 23 points. Kolten Smith had 3, and Robert Staton and Cannon Fletcher had 2 each.

Karson Briner had 2 blocks, while Kolten Smith and Tyler New had 1.

Kolten Smith and Tyler New had 5 boards. Cannon Fletcher had 4, Karson Briner and Carter Chapman had 3, Robert Staton had 2, and Camdain Frisch had 1.

Karson Briner, Cannon Fletcher, and Carter Chapman had 1 assist each.

Tyler New had 11 tips. Cannon Fletcher had 6, Robert Staton 4, Karson Briner 2, and Carter Chapman and Camdain Frisch had 1.

Tyler New had 8 steals. Cannon Fletcher had 5, and Carson Briner and Robert Staton had 3.

Chris Kephart had 16 for the Bluejays to lead the scoring. Jadin DeFreece had 12, Landon Wilmes 10, Ethan Gascoigne 6, and Brycen Kennard had 2.

Landon Wilmes had 2 blocks, while Jadin DeFreece had 1.

Jadin DeFreece had 13 boards and Chris Kephart had 10. Ethan Gascoigne had 4, Jake Redden 3, Landon Wilmes and Brycen Kennard 2, and Jacob Meyer 1.

Ethan Gascoigne had 5 assists. Landon Wilmes had 3, Chris Kephart and Jake Redden 2, and Brycen Kennard 1.

Landon Wilmes had 6 tips. Brycen Kennard and Jadin DeFreece had 2, while Ethan Gascoigne and Jake Redden had 1.

Landon Wilmes had 9 steals. Jadin DeFreece had 6, Ethan Gascoigne 4, Chris Kephart 3, and Brycen Kennard and Jacob Meyer 1 each.