By Staff

            HESSTON – After a strong comeback in the second half, the Smoky Valley boys were not able to get over the hump which Hesston had built, giving the Swathers a final 10-point, 45-35 win over the Vikings.

            With the loss the Vikings are now 0-4 for the season with the last two losses coming by late offensive surges by the opponents. Smoky Valley will be at home on Friday hosting Halstead in their final game before the holiday break.

            After Hesston opened the game up taking an eight-point, 13-5 lead after one quarter and holding a nine-point, 21-12 advantage at the halftime break, the Vikings chiseled away at the deficit and only trailed by four at 27-23 heading into the final quarter of play. In the fourth quarter, the Swathers outscored the Vikings by six to get to their final 10-point victory.

            Many of the team stats were close to being even except for one and that came with the 18 personal fouls called on the Vikings to just 13 for the Swathers, giving Hesston a 17-6 edge in trips to the free throw line where they converted on 13 to the Vikings only making two.

            Karson Pihl had a strong outing for Smoky Valley, leading the team in both scoring with 13 and rebounds where he grabbed seven. Both Jerome Autry and Gus Griffith had six points each with Griffith also pulling down six rebounds.

SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS at Hesston

SCORING: VIKINGS 5-7-11-12=35; Hesston 13-8-6-18=45.

TEAM STATS: VIKINGS > 2-FGs 9/16, 3-PTs 5/17, FTs 2/6, AST 6, REBs 24, TO 10, STLs 2, BLKs 0, FLs 18; Hesston > 2-FGs 13/33, 3-PTs 2/7,  FTs 13/17, AST 7, REBs 21, TO 7, STLs 10, BLKs 0, FLs 13.

VIKING INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS:

Scoring: Karson Pihl – 13; Jerome Autry – 6; Gus Griffith – 6; Vincent Pickering – 5; Braxton House – 3; Kade Blanchat – 2.

3-Pointers Made: Pihl, Je. Autry – 2; Pickering – 1.

Assists: Pihl – 2; Je. Autry, Griffith, House, Justice Autry – 1.

Rebounds: Pihl – 7; Griffith – 6; House – 5, Blanchat – 3; Ju. Autry, Ethan Able – 1.

Steals: House – 2.

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