On Thursday evening Axtell hosted the New West All-Star Classic for the basketball games. Of course, on Wednesday night the volleyball matches took place. For the hoops side of things, the matchups are both girls' and boys' games between the Republican Plains Activities Conference and the Fort Kearney Conference and then the Southwest Conference and the LouPlatte Conference.
Let's begin with the RPAC versus the FKC girls' matchup. The RPAC girls found a lot of success on both ends of the floor, winning 67-49. The RPAC came out with a lot of energy and shot the ball super well, leading 22-9 after the first eight minutes. One of the major things that helped them was hitting three, three-pointers in that first period. To go along with that high-energy comment, the RPAC squad was crashing the boards and driving to the lane time after time.
In the second quarter, the FKC did outscore the RPAC by a narrow margin, 13-12, but the RPAC held onto their lead, 34-22.
In the third period, the RPAC scored another 19 points, and tightened the screws on defense again, leading 53-29 going to the fourth period.
In the fourth quarter, the FKC did outscore the RPAC again, 18-14, but it wasn't enough and the RPAC came away with the win. Wauneta-Palisade's GraCee Goings' half-court granny shot did steal the show in the fourth quarter.
Ann Bose of Southern Valley was named the MVP with 14 points. Goings had 13 points, Stella Heapy of Medicine Valley pitched in 10.
JoLee Ryan of Overton had 11 points.
Front Row Left to Right: Katie Jarecke Hitchcock County), Addison Siebels (Alma), Ann Bose (Southern Valley), GraCee Goings (Wauneta-Palisade), Stella Heapy (Medicine Valley) Back Row Left to Right: Coach Chance Moreland (Paxton), Riley Scott (Alma), Kendyl Flaming (Wallace), Jacelyn Jorgensen (Paxton), Brylyn Springer (Cambridge), Peyton Cox (Wauneta-Palisade), and Richard McDonald (Southern Valley)
In the gym across the way, The LPC won in a big way over the SWC, 56-30. Kyra Wooden of Centura was the MVP with 20 points.
Now for the boys' game, the RPAC roster was limited to eight players, but they shot the lights out, winning 77-74. The FKC came out shooting the ball well and played good defense, leading 19-14 going into the second quarter.
In the next period, the RPAC got some things going on offense and limited the FKC's scoring, going up 33-32 heading to the intermission. Jakin Neal of Alma did a nice job in the first half keeping the offense for the RPAC rolling, with 12 and Carson Trompke of Cambridge had 13.
In the third quarter, the RPAC expanded their lead and went up 49-44. In the final stanza, the teams came alive on offense, the RPAC scored 28 and the FKC had 30 points. Both Josh Eakins of Paxton and Trompke scored nine points to pace the RPAC.
Cambridge's Trompke took home the MVP with 22 points. Jakin Neal of Alma had 20 and Josh Eakins of Paxton had 16.
Carson Lindau of Axtell led the FKC with 16 points.
From Left to Right: Coach Kolby Hamilton (Maywood-Hayes Center), Jaxon Unrein (Hitchcock County), Gage Gerlach (Maywood-Hayes Center), Brohdey Wood (Cambridge), Carson Trompke (Cambridge), Jakin Neal (Alma), Levi Huffman (Maxwell), Haydn Farr (Maywood-Hayes Center), Josh Eakins (Paxton), and Coach Clay Shepherd (Cambridge)
In the other gym for the boys' game, the SWC won over the LPC and Monty Brooks Fulmer of Cozad was the MVP with 19 points.
A great night of hoops in this All-Star Classic.
