Bentin Roberts has 14 Assists as Bluejay Boys Win Fourth Game

Bentin Roberts showed that his 16-assist night against North Harrison two games before was no accident as he dished out 14 more against South Holt Tuesday, February 17th as Northeast Nodaway won its fourth game of the year, 58-38 over South Holt. The Bluejays, unlike the girls, were coming off a buzzsaw at OSHS, where they got beat 70-34 as the Wildcards were in the middle of a six game rampage in which they brought down King City, Pattonsburg, and East Atchison as well. But the Bluejays rediscovered the form that had nearly worked against North Harrison as they fell into a 5-2 hole against South Holt, only for Bentin Roberts to start dishing the ball off at will and the rest of the team to get on the board.

First, it was Lance Runde to get the hot hand, scoring six points in an 8-0 Bluejay run that made it 10-5. Then, after South Holt threatened to make a game out of it when Cameron Biondo cut it to 13-10, Bentin Roberts drove and scored, Lance Runde aired one out to Wyatt Scadden for two, Reece Gray aired one out to Scadden for a free throw, and Scadden hit a 3-pointer as the Bluejays pulled away to a 21-13 first quarter lead. Like the North Harrison game, everything they threw up was going in.

But then South Holt pulled out their trapping zone and they started getting steals and easy baskets to chip away. Griffin Kemerling scored twice and Biondo got a steal as they closed to within 23-21 before Liam Cordell hit a 3-pointer to make it 26-21 at the half.

But unlike the North Harrison game, where the Bluejays couldn’t buy a stop defensively, they locked down on defense, holding the Knights to 17 as they solved the trapping zone and started to pull away.

Reece Gray started off the scoring with a 3-pointer, Lance Runde scored from inside after Bentin Roberts got him the ball, and Liam Cordell hit a 3-pointer to make it 34-21. Kameron Noland cut it to 34-25, but Liam Cordell hit a 3-pointer and Bentin Roberts hit Wyatt Scadden for three to make it 38-25. South Holt made another push as Will Jackson countered with a putback. But then Reece Gray took a charge on defense and Bentin Roberts kicked it out to Liam Cordell for three on the other end to make it 41-27.

Will Jackson kept going for the Knights, getting another putback to make it 41-29, but Lance Runde cut inside and scored to make it 43-29 after getting yet another pass from Bentin. At that point, frustration set in for South Holt and one of their players got a technical from Referee Tom Seipel and Runde made one free throw to make it 44-29. Bentin Roberts inbounded one to Wyatt Scadden, who drove and scored to make it 46-29 after three.

The Bluejays led by as much as 48-29 behind Bentin Roberts getting to the line and making two of four, but the Knights had another push in then, sparked by a tough baseline shot by Coltyn Fansher. Will Jackson cut inside and scored and Griffin Kemerling connected to make it 51-35. But Wyatt Scadden got loose in transition, Lance Runde hit a free throw, Benton Roberts hit two free throws, and Jace Burns got off the bench to score from inside to give Northeast its largest lead at 58-35.

Liam Cordell had 18 points. Wyatt Scadden had 15, Lance Runde 12, Bentin Roberts 8, Reece Gray 3, and Jace Burns 2.

Reece Gray had 2 blocks.

Bentin Roberts, Lance Runde, and Liam Cordell had 7 rebounds. Wyatt Scadden and Jace Burns had 5, Chase Allen and Reece Gray 2, and Jude Archer, Brady O’Connell, and Fenton Ackley had 1.

     Bentin Roberts had 14 assists. Wyatt Scadden had 3, Lance Runde 2, and Reece Gray 1.

Lance Runde had 4 tips. Bentin Roberts and Wyatt Scadden had 3, and Jude Archer, Chase Allen, and Liam Cordell 1.

Bentin Roberts had 5 steals. Lance Runde had 4, Wyatt Scadden 3, and Liam Cordell and Chase Allen had 1.

  

Hayley Yost Posts Career High as Bluejay Girls Win Second Straight

Northeast Nodaway’s girls won their second straight Tuesday, February 17th as they floored South Holt 51-28 on their senior night and gave their lone senior, Mylee Wilmes, a sendoff. It was a Party in the USA once again as Hayley Yost had a career high with 17 points and Wilmes dished out 10 assists the game after getting the game-winning 3-pointer against OSHS.

The overtime game between Northeast Nodaway and North Harrison turned out to benefit both teams, as both teams won their next two games following that matchup.

The Bluejays started off the game by feeding their two post players, Blair Nelson and Hayley Yost, at will, with Hayley getting the first four and Blair Nelson getting a free throw and following with a steal to make it 7-0. Hayley Yost scored from inside, Blair Nelson scored from inside, then Nelson got a putback to make it 13-0. Finally, someone besides those two got in on the scoring as Mylee Wilmes got a 3-pointer. After Blair Nelson knocked one down from the high post, Bristol Hicks knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Bluejays up 21-2 after one quarter. It was their biggest quarter of the year so far.

The Bluejays continued to pull away in the second quarter as Blair Nelson and Hayley Yost both scored from inside. Brianna Meyer got on the board for the Bluejays; then, Hayley Yost scored from inside and Meyer scored off a drive to make it 31-6 at the half.

But South Holt had won six games up to that point, and they started their comeback bid as Lexi VanHoutan got going for the Knights to start the third quarter to cut it to 33-11. Brianna Meyer picked up her third foul, followed by Hayley Yost after the latter knocked down a pair of free throws to make it 35-11. With them out of the game, the Knights threatened to storm back as Jacelyn Fansher scored twice and then Chloe DeBee scored three free throws to make it 35-18. Northeast was hacking and fouling in the quarter like they were the one playing from behind, not ahead. South Holt would get eight of their 16 points in the period from the line.

Meyer came back in, but VanHoutan would score again as the Knights twice cut it to 15, closing to within 37-22 at the end of three.

With the Bluejays back at full strength in the fourth quarter, they pulled away again as Blair Nelson got loose in transition and then cashed in on a steal to make it 41-22. Rylee Scadden got on the board, going backdoor and getting a pass from Mylee Wilmes to make it 43-22.

South Holt made one last charge as VanHoutan sparked them again with a steal, getting to within 46-28. But Hayley Yost scored the last five points as the Bluejays weathered the storm for the win.

Hayley Yost had 17 points. Blair Nelson had 15, Brianna Meyer 7, Bristol Hicks and Mylee Wilmes 5, and Rylee Scadden 2.

Hayley Yost and Brianna Meyer had 8 rebounds. Blair Nelson had 6, Mylee Wilmes, Bristol Hicks, and Piper Gray with 4 each, and Rylee Scadden 2.

Mylee Wilmes had 10 assists. Blair Nelson, Bristol Hicks, Rylee Scadden, and Brianna Meyer had 2, and Piper Gray had 1.

Rylee Scadden, Blair Nelson, and Hayley Yost had 3 steals. Brianna Meyer and Piper Gray had 2, and Bristol Hicks and Mylee Wilmes had 1.

 

Wyatt Maize Has 22 in Shamrock Victory; Liam Cordell has 28 Points, Bentin Roberts 16 Assists for Bluejays

Liam Cordell had 28 points for Northeast Nodaway’s Bluejays and Bentin Roberts turned in what may have been a record performance with 16 assists for the boys, but Wyatt Maize used a big second half to propel North Harrison past the Bluejays 61-59 Tuesday, February 10th.

At first, it looked like it would be all Bluejays. Reece Gray got loose in transition, and then Wyatt Scadden got two more. Then, Liam Cordell heated up with back-to-back triples to make it 10-0 before Gage Fortner hit a 3-pointer to put North Harrison on the board.

The avalanche continued for the Bluejays as Bentin Roberts was feeding other players at will from the point and they were cashing in. Reece Gray got loose in transition for three and Bentin Roberts got loose in transition and added a free throw. Liam Cordell got his third triple of the quarter and added a shot just inside the line, and Wyatt Scadden added a triple from the right wing. By the time the dust had settled, Northeast Nodaway was up 24-15 after one, and the Shamrocks were down for the count.

Cordell’s drive put the Bluejays up 27-16 at the 6:26 mark of the second, but then the Shamrocks settled down defensively, getting down and guarding people while they were chipping away. Wyatt Maize went coast to coast, Jensen Davis hit an NBA triple from the top of the key, Ryker Fortner drove and converted a three point play, Jensen Davis added a free throw, and Gage Fortner cashed in a steal to tie the game at 27.

But the Bluejays answered as Lance Runde hit a baseline shot, Liam Cordell went coast to coast, and Liam struck from three as the Bluejays regained a 34-30 lead at the half.

The third quarter started off well for the Shamrocks as Wyatt Maize drove and scored right off the bat. Wyatt Scadden countered with a 3-pointer, but Gage Fortner got a free throw, Wyatt Maize cleaned up after a Gage Fortner steal, Andrew Craig slashed and scored, and Wyatt Maize slashed and scored to put the Shamrocks in front for the first time at 39-37.

Jace Burns hit three straight to put the Bluejays back in front 40-39, but then Jensen Davis got a bullet pass from Wyatt Maize for two. Maize kept getting loose in transition during the next stretch, and then drove and hit a guarded pullup shot in the high post to make it 47-40 in North Harrison’s favor. Lance Runde’s free throw stopped the bleeding temporarily for Northeast, but Tate Richardson hit two free throws and Jensen Davis got loose in transition to put North Harrison up 51-41 after three.

But Liam Cordell heated up again for the Bluejays, and they got right back in it to start the fourth. He got loose in transition for two, and then added a triple to make it 51-46. Wyatt Maize countered with an inside shot set up by a Jensen Davis drive to make it 53-46, but Liam kept coming, hitting another 3-pointer. Wyatt Scadden hit a shot in the high post, and Liam hit another triple, and all of a sudden, the Bluejays were in the lead at 54-53. Jensen Davis put the Shamrocks back in front 55-54, only for Lance Runde to score from inside to put the Bluejays in front 56-55.

Reece Gray took a charge on defense for the Bluejays, but the Shamrocks got a stop, and Wyatt Maize hit a 3-pointer to give the Shamrocks a 58-56 lead. Wyatt Scadden missed a pullup in the high post, and North Harrison went to its delay game before Andrew Craig found Ryker Fortner inside to put the Shamrocks up two possessions at 60-56.

But Wyatt Scadden hit a guarded three with 20 seconds to make it 60-59, and Northeast nearly forced a tieup in the backcourt with 12 seconds left before getting Wyatt Maize fouled with 5 seconds left. He made one of two to put North Harrison up 61-59.

Northeast Nodaway rushed it up the floor, and Wyatt Scadden found Bentin Roberts all alone on the left wing for three for a shot which would have won it. But the shot went up and over the top, giving the ball back to North Harrison with 1.7 seconds left.

North Harrison aired the ball out to half court, and Wyatt Scadden nearly stole it, but the ball caromed off him and a Shamrock player as time expired.

For Northeast Nodaway, Liam Cordell had 28 points. Wyatt Scadden had 15, Reece Gray and Lance Runde 5, Bentin Roberts 3, and Jace Burns 3.

Wyatt Scadden, Reece Gray, and Bentin Roberts had blocked shots.

Wyatt Scadden had 8 rebounds. Bentin Roberts and Reece Gray had 4, Liam Cordell and Jace Burns 3, and Lance Runde 2.

Bentin Roberts had 16 assists. Reece Gray and Wyatt Scadden had 3, Liam Cordell had 2, and Lance Runde 1.

Wyatt Scadden had 5 tips. Bentin Roberts and Lance Runde had 2, and Reece Gray and Liam Cordell had 1.

Wyatt Scadden and Bentin Roberts had 3 steals. Reece Gray had 2 and Liam Cordell 1.

For North Harrison, Wyatt Maize had 22 points, 16 in the second half. Jensen Davis had 13, Gage Fortner 9, Ryker Fortner 8, Andrew Craig 7, and Tate Richardson 2.

Wyatt Maize had 1 block.

Gage Fortner had 11 rebounds. Wyatt Maize had 9, Ethan Henson 6, Andrew Craig 5, Jensen Davis and Ryker Fortner 3, and Tate Richardson 1.

Wyatt Maize had 6 assists. Jensen Davis and Ryker Fortner had 3 each, Tate Richardson, Gage Fortner, and Ethan Henson 2, and Andrew Craig 1.

Wyatt Maize had 8 tips. Gage Fortner had 4, Jensen Davis and Ryker Fortner had 2, and Ethan Henson and Tate Richardson had 1.

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

 

Ava Rinehart Bails Out Shamrocks Against Bluejays; Blair Nelson Scores 21 for NEN

Northeast Nodaway’s girls posted season highs in points scored, breaking 40 for the first time all year despite being shorthanded. North Harrison needed a late outburst from Ava Rinehart, after she had not scored all game, to force overtime. The Shamrocks were also playing shorthanded that game. North Harrison finally took control in the extra period and won 54-49, denying the Bluejays their first win of the season. But the Bluejays were able to build on that game and win three nights later in Osborn, getting a last-second shot from Mylee Wilmes to win 27-26.

With the season not going the way they wanted it to, the Bluejays had two choices — fold or keep grinding and see the light at the end of the tunnel. Many college teams in their shoes have folded; for instance, the Kansas State Wildcats men’s basketball program fired its coach mid-season after they quit playing at home and suffered an embarrassing 91-62 loss to a previously slumping Cincinnati team that was shorthanded. But the Bluejays have been showing improvement since the start of the season, and finally broke the 30-point barrier regularly even against good teams after scoring 30 in only two of its first 16 games.

The Bluejays are hopeful that next year, with all but one of their players back for next year, the addition of incoming freshmen like Maddie Faustlin, Khloe Burns, and Kiley Yost, and a more stable coaching situation (the Bluejays are on their third coach in two years) will help them get back to .500.

For North Harrison, they were fighting a slump; after taking third in the Gilman City Tournament, they lost two heartbreakers to Albany and North Andrew as they reverted back to struggling to finish off close games. They were heavily favored to win a breather, but it was the Bluejays who jumped out on top after Blair Nelson grabbed an offensive board and flipped it in, Brianna Meyer got a steal and drive, and Nelson hit a free throw to put them up 8-4 midway through the first.

Hali Smith heated up to knot the game up at 9-9 for the Shamrocks after one, but once again, the Bluejays moved out in front again after Hayley Host hit a free throw and Blair Nelson hit a 3-pointer to make it 13-9 with 6:10 left in the second.

It looked like the ship would begin to right itself for the Shamrocks after Blair Nelson picked up her second foul and Brianna Meyer picked up her third. But after Hali Smith chipped away on the free throw line and got the Shamrock deficit down to 14-13, Mylee Wilmes promptly hit a 3-pointer to put the Bluejays back up four.

With Jaxcynn Hansel picking up her third foul, the Bluejays were the ones threatening to pull away after Brianna Meyer scored twice off passes from Piper Gray to make it 21-13.

But then Lani Briggs countered with a 3-pointer to stop the bleeding for the Shamrocks. As Hayley Yost picked up her third foul for the Bluejays, the Shamrocks kept coming as Addison Milligan hit a free throw with 33 seconds left to make it 21-17. Blair Nelson countered with a free throw for NEN with 12 seconds left, but North Harrison rushed it up the floor, and Hali Smith hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to make it 22-20.

The third quarter started with the teams trading blow for blow as Blair Nelson and Hayley Yost were connecting for Northeast and Hali Smith, Lani Briggs, and Jaxcynn Hansel connecting for the Shamrocks. But with the Bluejays leading 28-27, they put North Harrison on the ropes despite Yost going to the bench with four fouls as Mylee Wilmes hitting a 3-pointer and Blair Nelson scoring an inside shot and a pair of free throws to put the Bluejays up 35-27 at the end of three.

But then Addison Milligan slashed down the right side and cashed in at the free throw line to start the fourth. North Harrison got a stop, and then Jaxcynn Hansel aired it out to Ava Rinehart, who had not scored all game, to make it 35-31. Ava then stayed in the backcourt and stole the ensuing inbounds pass, turning it into two free throws to make it 35-33. After another stop, Hali Smith slashed down the right baseline and scored, drawing Brianna Meyer’s fourth foul, and converting a three-point play. Just like that, the Bluejay lead was gone, and the Shamrocks were ahead 36-35.

But just as it looked like the Bluejays were finished, they fought back as Blair Nelson knocked one down from the high post to put the Bluejays back ahead 37-36. Hali Smith knotted it up at the free throw line, but Hayley Yost put the Bluejays back up 40-37 after converting a three-point play in the post. Despite Yost subsequently picking up her fifth foul, Blair Nelson scored again to make it 42-37 with 3:58 left.

But Ava Rinehart resurrected North Harrison’s chances with a 3-pointer from the wing. Blair Nelson countered with a free throw, but Jaxcynn Hansel scored from inside and Ava Rinehart added a free throw after a steal to knot it up at 43 with 1:50 left.

Hali Smith got a steal, but subsequently missed a shot from the left wing, and the game remained tied. Northeast held it for the last shot. North Harrison got a tie-up with 39 seconds, but the possession arrow pointed to the Bluejays and the possession continued. Blair Nelson finally tried to split two defenders but traveled and the ball went back to the Shamrocks.

But Mylee Wilmes stole the ball back with 14 seconds left, and Lani Briggs fouled her during the scramble, putting Wilmes at the line. But she missed both tries, and Lani Briggs got loose with seven seconds left in transition to put the Shamrocks up 45-43.

The Bluejays had struggled to break full court presses all year, and the Shamrocks played full court denial on the subsequent inbounds play. But Brianna Meyer rushed it up the floor and found Blair Nelson at the buzzer to force overtime.

But the extra period belonged to the Shamrocks after Ava Rinehart started it off with a 3-pointer. Jaxcynn Hansel got a putback to make it 50-45, and with the Bluejays down to six players, one on the bench with five fouls, and two others with four, it was very difficult for them to get the ball back to make a game of it.

Rylee Scadden got on the board, cutting inside and scoring, but Lani Briggs countered with a 3-pointer to make it 53-47. Brianna Meyer hit a free throw with 1:21 left, but the Shamrocks started running out the clock, taking it down to 25 seconds before the Bluejays fouled Lani Briggs. She made one of two to make it 54-49.

Mylee Wilmes countered with a free throw to make it 54-49 with 18 seconds left, and Lani Briggs lost it out of bounds against the Bluejay pressure to give them one more chance. But Brianna Meyer missed a shot in the high post and the Shamrocks were able to run out the clock.

For Northeast Nodaway, Blair Nelson had 21, Hayley Yost had 10, Brianna Meyer 9, Mylee Wilmes 7, and Rylee Scadden 2.

Blair Nelson had 2 blocks.

Brianna Meyer had 14 boards, a career high. Blair Nelson had 11, Hayley Yost 8, Piper Gray 5, Rylee Scadden 4, and Mylee Wilmes 3.

Brianna Meyer had 6 assists. Piper Gray and Mylee Wilmes had 4, Blair Nelson 3, Rylee Scadden 2, and Hayley Yost 1.

Brianna Meyer had 3 tips. Hayley Yost, Blair Nelson, and Mylee Wilmes had 1.

Brianna Meyer had 5 steals. Mylee Wilmes and Hayley Yost had 1.

For North Harrison, Hali Smith had 18 points. Lani Briggs had 13, Ava Rinehart 12, Jaxcynn Hansel 8, and Addison Milligan 3.

Hali Smith had 5 blocks and Addison Milligan 1.

Hali Smith went beast mode on the boards with a career high 17. Addison Milligan had 12, also a career high. Jaxcynn Hansel had 12, Ava Rinehart 4, Lani Briggs 3, and Raegan Hogan 1.

Addison Milligan and Hali Smith had 5 assists. Ava Rinehart and Jaxcynn Hansel had 4 and Lani Briggs 1.

Ava Rinehart had 6 tips. Raedan Hogan and Lani Briggs had 3, Addison Milligan 2, and Hali Smith and Jaxcynn Hansel had 1.

Lani Briggs and Hali Smith had 4 steals. Ava Rinehart had 3 and Addison Milligan had 1.

 

 

Happy Days are Here Again — Bluejay Girls Finally Win Behind Mylee Wilmes Shot Heard Round the World

Northeast Nodaway’s girls were coming off a heartbreaking loss to North Harrison after playing way above their heads despite being down one player and losing in overtime. But there was still basketball to be played, and they had to travel to Osborn, to play Stewartsville/Osborn, to whom they had already lost to twice. For a while, it looked like it would be another hard-fought game, another close loss, and another long bus ride home. But then Mylee Wilmes hit a 3-pointer with nine seconds left, and instead of a long bus ride, it was a Party in the USA as the Bluejays came away with a 27-26 win over the Wildcards.

It was a career night for Mylee Wilmes, who had 17 points in the winning effort for the Bluejays. Her previous high was two years ago against Mound City, when she had 14 points.

Wilmes started off on fire for the Bluejays, knocking down three triples in rapid succession to push them out to an 11-4 lead. But Addy Ramos’ triple cut the Wildcard deficit to 11-7 after one, and the Wildcards first started shadowing Wilmes, and then switched to a man to man defense to stop her.

Hayley Yost put the Bluejays up 13-7 to start the second, but then the orange shirts started locking down on defense and chipping away. By the end of the half, the Bluejay lead was gone after Jaelin Hahn’s steal put OSHS up 16-15 at the break.

The game turned into a match that resembled more of a football game or a boxing match than a basketball game, with bodies flying and jump balls everywhere. At one point, Yost got hit in the face and came out, and on another, Blair Nelson got the wind knocked out of her during another scramble. After one such scramble, one of the Wildcard players got away and hit a 3-pointer to put them up 19-17. Another triple at the start of the fourth put them up 22-17.

Brianna Meyer started off the game on fire, stealing six in the first half. But as the game progressed, she had to be careful as she picked up her second foul in the first half and a third foul in the third quarter. But she stayed on the floor and hit two free throws to cut it to 22-19 to stop the bleeding.

Hahn hit a free throw to make it 23-19, but as the orange shirts were trying to help out in the post on Hayley Yost, she kicked it out to Mylee Wilmes for three, and she was wide open for her first points since the first quarter to make it 23-22.

Northeast started swarming and pressing to get the ball back, but after a missed shot, Hahn got away from the blue shirts and went coast to coast to make it 25-22 with 3:23 left. But on their next possession, Northeast missed a shot, but the ball was tipped around right into the hands of Mylee Wilmes, and her putback cut it to one at 25-24.

The Bluejays missed two chances to take the lead as Yost missed one shot in the post and traveled with it on another try. With one minute left, OSHS went into its delay game. Brianna Meyer knocked it into the backcourt, but the Wildcards recovered and the possession continued. They got it down to 18 seconds before Rylee Scadden fouled Jaelin Hahn. She made one of two to make it 26-24.

The Wildcards put token pressure on Brianna Meyer as the Bluejays inbounded to her, trying to take time off the clock. But she got it up the court and found Mylee Wilmes open for three. The pass was a little behind her, but Mylee gathered it in, got her feet set, and her triple was nothing but net to put the Bluejays in front 27-26 with 9 seconds left.

The Wildcards rushed it up the floor and found a player in the post, but Brianna Meyer blocked the shot and the ball rolled into the corner. It was picked up by another orange shirt, who threw up a wild shot with Hayley Yost and Blair Nelson rushing at her. The shot would have counted had it gone in, but it went astray and the Bluejays won.

Mylee Wilmes had 17 points. Blair Nelson had 6, Hayley Yost 2, and Brianna Meyer 2.

Brianna Meyer and Hayley Yost had 2 blocks. Blair Nelson and Bristol Hicks had 1.

Brianna Meyer had 13 boards. Blair Nelson had 10, Hayley Yost 6, Mylee Wilmes 5, and Piper Gray 1.

Brianna Meyer had 4 assists. Blair Nelson and Mylee Wilmes had 2 and Hayley Yost 1.

Brianna Meyer had 6 tips. Blair Nelson and Rylee Scadden had 2 and Piper Gray and Hayley Yost had 1.

Brianna Meyer had 6 steals. Mylee Wilmes had 3, Blair Nelson 2, and Piper Gray, Bristol Hicks, Hayley Yost, and Rylee Scadden had 1.