By William / www.mcpherson-county-ks.com
LINDSBORG – The Smoky Valley boys hosted the top-ranked team in Class 2A, Hillsboro, on Tuesday and the visitor overpowered the Vikings with blistering shooting for a final 23-point, 69-46 victory.
Hillsboro jumped out to a 13-point lead by the end of the first quarter and still held an 11-point, 35-24 advantage over the Vikings heading into the halftime break.
While Smoky Valley shot a respectable 41% from the field, the visitors were scorching the Viking defense by hitting a blistering 61% of their shots from the field, including connecting on seven-of-ten from beyond the three-point line.
Trayton Miller put down four-of-five three pointers to lead the Vikings offense with 19 points while Vincent Pickering just missed double digits with nine.
Now 6-8 for the season, the Vikings will look to bounce back on Friday when they make a road trip to Larned.
SCORING: 1 2 3 4 FINAL
Hillsboro 21 14 20 14 69
VIKINGS 8 16 13 9 46
TEAM STATS =
Hillsboro = FG 21/34 (61%); 3-PTR 7/10 (70%); FT 20/30 (66%); AST n/a; REBS 22; TO 11; STLS 8; BLKS 2; PF 10.
SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS = FG 16/39 (41%); 3-PTR 6/12 (50%); FT 8/14 (57%); AST 4; REBS 17; TO 12; STLS 6; BLKS 1; PF 21.
SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS =
Scoring (46 total points) = Trayton Miller – 19; Vincent Pickering – 9; Gus Griffith – 7; Karson Pihl – 5; Haven Lysell-Stewart – 3; Lukas Apel – 2; Kade Blanchat – 1.
3-Pointers Made (6) = Miller – 4; Pihl, Pickering – 1.
Assists (4) = Justice Autry, Pihl, Blanchat, Pickering – 1.
Rebounds (17) = Apel – 5; Griffith – 4; Pihl – 3.
Steals (6) = Pihl – 2.
Blocked Shots (1) = Blanchat – 1.