By Staff
LINDSBORG – On Friday, the Smoky Valley boys had a strong first half before stumbling and allowing visiting Concordia back into the game where they nipped the Vikings late with a 65-59 win.
With the loss, the Vikings drop to 0-3 for the season as they prep to go on the road Tuesday to Hesston.
After the two teams played to an 11-11 tie at the end of the first quarter, the Vikings pulled out to a five-point, 27-22 advantage heading into the halftime break before the Panthers bounced back and tied the game again at the end of three at 42-42. Concordia then outscored Smoky Valley by six in the fourth quarter to gain the final six-point, 65-59 victory.
The Vikings showed a balanced offensive attack with four reaching double digits in scoring led by Karson Pihl with 13, Vincent Pickering with 12 and both Jerome Autry and Gus Griffith each hitting for 11.
Dishing out 12 assists between them, Pihl and Justice Autry directed the offense as Pihl dished out seven.
Griffith and Braxton House worked the paint, and each pulled down six rebounds.
Concordia at SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS
SCORING: Concordia 11-11-20-24=65; VIKINGS 11-16-15-17=59.
VIKING TEAM STATS: 2-FGs – 15/26; 3-FGs – 8/25; FTs – 4/11; AST – 18; REBs – 26; TO – 5; STLs – 9; BLKs – 2; FLs – 21.
VIKING INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS:
Scoring: Karson Pihl – 13; Vincent Pickering – 12; Jerome Autry – 11; Gus Griffith – 11; Kade Blanchat – 7; Ki Blanchat – 5.
3-Pointers Made: Je. Autry – 3; Pihl, Pickering – 2; Ki Blanchat – 1.
Assists: Pihl – 7; Justice Autry – 5; Pickering, Griffith, Ka. Blanchat – 2.
Rebounds: Griffith, Braxton House – 6; Ka. Blanchat – 4; Pickering, Ju. Autry – 3; Pihl – 2; Je. Autry, Ki Blanchat – 1.
Steals: Pihl – 3; Pickering, Je. Autry, Ka. Blanchat – 2; Griffith, Ju. Autry – 1.
Blocked Shots: Kade Blanchat – 2.
(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)