Lance Runde Scores 12 as JH Bluejay Boys Overcome Monster Night from Ridge Clements

Lance Runde led a balanced attack as the Northeast Nodaway junior high Bluejays overcame a monster night from Ridge Clements and Northeast came away with the 38-21 win. The night before, North Nodaway had a forgettable night against East Atchison in which they turned the ball over 32 times in a 49-10 loss. But against Northeast, Ridge Clements nearly singlehandedly kept his team in the game in the first quarter, scoring all eight points as the game was tied at 2, 6, and 8. He would go on to score 18 points and get 15 boards for the Mustangs.

But the tale of the tape was in Northeast's favor; despite the tie score after one, Northeast was outplaying North Nodaway on the floor; they had fewer turnovers, more boards, and more assists. Sure enough, they started pulling away in the second quarter as Reece Gray scored off a drive, Lance Runde scored off a Bentin Roberts steal, and then Wyat Scadden got a tip and Roberts scored off a steal to make it 14-8 at the 4:20 mark of the second. Clements cut it to 14-10, but then Chase Allen threw a perfect high low pass to Reece Gray and he converted a three point play to spark the Bluejays. Northeast then began beating North Nodaway up and down the floor; several of their assists came off players airing it out deep, perhaps trying to replicate the success of the football team in airing it out to Bo Collins the last two years. Reece Gray got a steal, got it to Bentin, who got it to Lance for the finish, Reece Gray got an offensive glass and fed Roberts on the wing, and then Liam Cordell aired one out to Reece Gray to make it 23-10 at the half.

The Bluejays continued to pull away in the third quarter. Reece Gray pushed one ahead to Bentin Roberts, who fed Lance Runde for a finish to start the third. Reece Gray got a third chance putback to make it 27-10. Ridge Clements went coast to coast to cut it to 27-12, but then Wyat Scadden got loose in transition, Brady O'Connell got loose after Wyat Scadden aired one out, and then Reece Gray got a steal to Bentin Roberts; Bentin couldn't finish over Ridge Clements, but Lance Runde was there for the putback to make it 33-12.

Northeast led 34-14 after three, allowing them to sub freely. Jace Burns, coming off an arm injury that sidelined him for football, showed some skill as he scored off an inside shot, got three steals, and hustled all over the place. Jude Archer added an assist, rebounded well, and got a putback at the buzzer for the Bluejays.

Seven different Bluejays scored in the win. Lance Runde had 12, Reece Gray 10, Bentin Roberts 6, Brady O'Connell 4, and Wyat Scadden, Jace Burns, and Jude Archer had 2 each.

Bentin Roberts, Jude Archer, Jace Burns, and Toryn Privett each had 1 rejection.

Lance Runde and Reece Gray had 7 boards. Wyat Scadden and Jude Archer had 5, Bentin Roberts and Chase Allen had 3 each, and Toryn Privett had 2. 

Bentin Roberts had 5 assists. Reece Gray had 2, and Brady O'Connell, Chase Allen, Liam Cordell, Lance Runde, and Wyat Scadden had 1 each.

Lance Runde had 4 tips. Liam Cordell had 3, Wyat Scadden and Jace Burns had 2 each, and Bentin Roberts and Jude Archer had 1 each.

Reece Gray had 6 steals. Liam Cordell and Jace Burns had 3 each, while Lance Runde, Wyat Scadden, and Bentin Roberts had 2 each.

For North Nodaway, Ridge Clements had 18 points and Marek Stevens 3.

Ridge Clements had 3 blocks.

Ridge Clements had 15 boards. Marek Stevens had 3, Jackson Keho and Hayden Marriott 2 each, and Ty Moyer and Owen Coleman 1 each.

Weston Alexander had 1 tip. Ridge Clements had 3 steals.