On Saturday, the RPAC Boys Basketball Tournament got rolling as Maxwell played host to the West side, and Bertrand hosted the East. There were some close games, and some upsets in the opening round.
At the end of the blog post, be sure to check out the updated bracket.
RPAC WEST BOYS BASKETBALL RESULTS
#1 seed Hitchcock County played #8 seeded Wauneta-Palisade in the first game of the day. The Falcons were able to take care of business in this one 60-23. The Falcons did what they needed to, to move on in the tournament. Wauneta-Palisade gives great effort whenever they play, and this Hitchcock County team is a tough one.
The Broncos were led by Grayden Sutherland with nine points. Aden Acton added five.
Photo Credit: Nora Jameson
For Hitchcock County, they had four players in double-figures as Adam Kisker scored 18 points, Jayce Hauxwell had 17, Jack Baker scored 11, and Mason Schilke put up 10.
In the second game of the day, it was #4 seeded Paxton versus #5 seed Maywood-Hayes Center. This was the third meeting for the two teams, MHC taking the first two by three points each and also, one was an overtime game.
Today did not disappoint, as it was a great game. This time, Paxton won overtime 41-37. It seems like whenever these teams get together, it's always a good game.
Photo Credit: Nora Jameson
MHC was led by Kody Schwenk with nine points, Keenan Richards had eight, and Kade Broz and Jaxson Anders had six.
Paxton was led by Wyatt Walker with 12 points, eight from Maddex McConnell, and six from Tanner Hebblethwaite.
In the third game of the day, it was Wallace, the #3 seed, versus #6 seed Maxwell. A battle of the Wildcats, that saw the higher-seeded Wallace win 53-37. This game was quite intriguing on paper.
Maxwell was led by Cole Huffman's 14 points and nine from Jesse Reyes.
Photo Credit: Nora Jameson
Wallace had 16 points from Max Hanson, 13 from Conner Kennicutt, and eight from Colt Franklin and Jason Fisher.
The day's final game was #2 seeded Dundy County Stratton versus #7 seed Sutherland. The Tigers won big, 73-29. This Sutherland team has played hard all season long, and in this one, they just ran into a buzzsaw with Dundy County Stratton.
Photo Credit: Nora Jameson
Sutherland was led by Mason Mortimer with 12 points and Ethan Holm with nine points. Jackson Saner added four.
Dundy County Stratton was paced by 21 points from Lane Bybee and Ethan Latta. August Shaw had eight and Dante Horner scored seven.
RPAC EAST BOYS BASKETBALL RESULTS
On the East side, the opening game was #1 Alma versus #8 Arapahoe. The Cardinals were able to take the win in this one, 66-27. Alma keeps playing well this season and moves on in the tournament.
Eli Shafer paced the Warriors with nine points, and Will Cacy added eight.
Isaiah Neal was on fire for Alma with 22 points, including five three-pointers. Grady Faimon added 12 points and Zavier Mitchell had 10.
Hi-Line was able to get the win, 46-33. You may have heard on the RPAC Rundown Podcast that we thought this game could be very interesting. It was tied up at 9-9 after the first quarter, but Hi-Line opened it up to 22-12 at halftime and never looked back.
Medicine Valley was led by Mason Roblee's 12 points and Brody Senff's 10.
Dawson Ruda had 17 points for Hi-Line, and Zach Whittaker and Brody Diefenbaugh each had 11.
Following that game, it was #3 seeded Cambridge versus #6 seeded Southwest. The Roughriders pulled off the upset by beating Cambridge 69-65. Cambridge led at the end of the first quarter 21-16. Cambridge kept the narrow lead at halftime, 38-35.
Cambridge was up 59-46 heading to the fourth, but an explosion of offense for the Roughriders allowed them to take the lead and eventually the win.
Cambridge was led by Hodge Raburn with 24 points, Krayton Ruggles had 16, and Maverick Webb had 13. Webb hit three threes in the first quarter and Raburn had four of them in the third quarter.
For Southwest, Houston, Billeter had another 30-point game, including 19 points in the second half. Trenton Williams scored 14. Jacob Barber and Deric Kelley each had eight.
In the last game of the day, #2 Bertrand played. #7 Southern Valley. This game was also a thriller. Bertrand hung on by a narrow margin, 63-57. Southern Valley led at the end of the first quarter, 19-10. They maintained the lead at halftime, 35-29.
In the second half, the defense tightened up, and the offense got going for Bertrand to get the win.
Isaac Hamilton had 17 to lead Southern Valley, Tate Weatherwax had 14, and Tylor Grove scored nine.
Four players led Bertrand in double-figures as Marcus Hernandez had 17, Kayden Hatfield scored 15, Hunter Nelson scored 12, and Thunder Nelson had 11.
Check out the updated bracket for matchups and game times on Tuesday. The games will be played in Hayes Center as MHC hosts the West and in Bartley at Southwest as the Roughriders host those games.
