By Staff
HILLSBORO – After taking a big lead early in the game on Tuesday, the Smoky Valley boys held on in the second half to earn a hard fought, four-point, 57-53 win on the road at Hillsboro.
With the victory, the Vikings are now 3-4 for the season as they prep to play host to Larned on Friday.
Smoky Valley held a four-point, 13-9 advantage at the end of the first quarter before powering out to a 16-point, 33-17 lead heading into the halftime break.
Coming out of the break, Hillsboro chiseled their deficit in half and only trailed the Vikings by seven at 44-37 at the end of the third quarter before Smoky Valley hung on to earn the final four-point win.
Ki Blanchat led the Vikings in scoring with 22 points while both Karson Pihl and Kade Blanchat each had 10. Vincent Pickering chipped in with eight. Kade Blanchat recorded a double-double by topping the team with 10 rebounds as well.
SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS at Hillsboro
SCORING: VIKINGS > 13-20-11-13=57; Hillsboro > 9-8-20-16=53.
TEAM STATS: VIKINGS: 2-FGs > 20/32; 3-PTs > 2/14; FTs > 11/16; AST > n/a; REBs > 18; TO > 2; STLs > 1; FLs > 10. Hillsboro: 2-FGs > 15/20; 3-PTs > 5/17; FTs > 7/10; AST > n/a; REBs > 12; TO > 4; STLs > 4; FLs > 20.
SMOKY VALLEY VIKING INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS: Scoring > Ki Blanchat – 22; Karson Pihl – 10; Kade Blanchat – 10; Vincent Pickering – 8; Braxton House – 4; Justice Autry – 3. 3-Pointers Made > Ki. Blanchat, Pihl – 1. Rebounds > Ka. Blanchat – 10; Ki. Blanchat – 3; Pickering – 2.
(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)