By Staff          

            ABILENE – The Smoky Valley boys basketball team opened their 2022-23 season on the road against hot shooting Abilene and came home with a 21-point, 73-52 loss.

            Abilene took control early and held a 12-point, 22-10 lead over the Vikings by the end of the first quarter and extended their lead to 16 at 39-23 going into the halftime break. Despite playing much closer in scoring in the second half, 34-29, Abilene held on and handed Smoky Valley the final 21-point loss.

            While the Vikings did shoot 40% from the field, they struggled outside the three-point line connecting on just 23% of their attempts and the free throw line where they made just 25% while Abilene was a hitting a blistering 59% from the field that included making 10-of-17 from three-point range.

            Seniors Kade Blanchat and Vincent Pickering led the Vikings in scoring as they both reached double digits with 11 while Karson Pihl and Jerome Autry chipped in with seven and six as eight Smoky Valley players put points by their name in the scorebook.

            Gus Griffith led the team in both rebounds with five and blocked shots with two while Karson Pihl directed the offense and dished out seven assists. Ki Blanchat had the quick hands on defense by making five steals.

            The Vikings will once again be on the road on Tuesday at Southeast of Saline before getting their 2022-23 home opener on Friday when they will host Concordia.

SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS at Abilene

SCORING: VIKINGS 10-13-11-18=52; Abilene 22-17-13-21=73.

TEAM STATS: VIKINGS: FGs – 22/55; 3-PTs – 5/27; FTs – 3/12; AST – 13; RBs – 22; FLs – 16; STLs – 11; BLK – 3; TO = 19. Abilene: FGs – 26/44; 3-PTs – 10/17; FTs – 11/16; AST – N/A; RBs – N/A; FLs – 15; STLs – N/A; BLK- N/A; TO = N/A.

VIKING INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS:

Scoring: Kade Blanchat – 11; Vincent Pickering – 11; Karson Pihl – 7; Jerome Autry – 6; Ethan Able – 5; Braxton House – 5; Gus Griffith – 4; Ki Blanchat – 3.

3-Pointers: Jerome Autry – 2; Kade Blanchat, Karson Pihl – 1.

Assists: Karson Pihl – 7; Vincent Pickering, Ki Blanchat – 2.

Rebounds: Gus Griffith – 5; Ki Blanchat – 4; Kade Blanchat, Karson Pihl – 3; Jerome Autry, Ethan Able, Braxton House – 2.

Steals: Ki Blanchat – 5; Vincent Pickering – 3.

Blocked Shots: Gus Griffith – 2; Kade Blanchat – 1.

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)