By Staff
LINDSBORG – It was like getting an early Christmas present for the Smoky Valley boys and their fans on Friday as they finally gained their first win of the 2022-23 season with a tight, five-point, 48-43 homecourt victory over Halstead.
Now 1-4 for the season, the Vikings will get a much-needed break for the Christmas holiday before they return to the competitive hardwood on Tuesday, January 3 when they go on the road to Hoisington.
After falling behind by four at 10-4 at the end of the first quarter, the Vikings out scored the Dragons 15-9 in the second quarte to go into the halftime break with a slim two-point advantage at 21-19.
Both teams played even up basketball in the third quarter as they each put another 13 points on the scoreboard before the Vikings put three more points of separation on the board in the final quarter to gain the final five-point, 48-43 win.
Ki Blanchat used a pair of three-pointers to help lead the Vikings in scoring with 12 points while Karson Pihl joined him in double figures with 10. Jerome Autry, Vincent Pickering, and Gus Griffith all chipped in with six as Smoky Valley had a very balanced offense with a total of eight Vikings putting a point or more in the scorebook by their name.
Halstead at SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS
SCORING: Halstead > 10-9-13-11=43; SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS > 6-15-13-14=48.
SMOKY VALLEY VIKING INDIVIDUAL SCORING:
Scoring: Ki Blanchat – 12; Karson Pihl – 10; Jerome Autry – 6; Vincent Pickering – 6; Gus Griffith – 6; Kade Blanchat – 4; Justice Autry – 3; Braxton House – 1.
3-Pointers Made: Ki Blanchat – 2; Karson Pihl, Jerome Autry – 1.
(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)
A collection of short stories from the busy and creative mind of author Will Dursens.
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