By Staff

            STERLING – The Smoky Valley boys opened the 2023 Sterling Invitational with a pair of games and came home with a win and a loss as they stumbled and lost to number one ranked Southeast of Saline by 25, 63-38 on Monday before pounding Lyons on Tuesday in the second game by a winning score of 71-33.

            On Monday, against top ranked Southeast of Saline the Vikings fell behind by six, 14-8 by the end of the first quarter and trailed by 11, 29-18 at the halftime break. Whenever Smoky Valley had an answer in the second half, Southeast of Saline had responses in beating the Vikings by 25.

            Team wise, Southeast of Saline dominated the paint and held a 22 rebound advantage in the game while forcing Smoky Valley into 17 turnovers compared to just 10 for Southeast of Saline.

            Individually, eight Vikings put numbers in the scorebook with both Vincent Pickering and Ki Blanchat leading the team while just missing double digits with nine points each.

            In the Tuesday matchup with Lyons, the Vikings were on fire from the field as they connected on 66% of all shots from the field that included making 8-of-13 from beyond the three-point line. Smoky Valley also won the rebound battle 24-14 and forced Lyons into making 17 turnovers while only making nine themselves.

            Karson Pihl led the nine Vikings who scored in the game by scoring 14, much helped by connecting on four three-pointers. Ki Blanchat also hit for double digits with 11 while Kade Blanchat, Gus Griffith, and Justice Autry all scored eight. Griffith led Smoky Valley in rebounds with six.

SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS vs. Southeast of Saline at Sterling Invitational

SCORING: VIKINGS > 8-10-11-9 = 38; SE of Saline > 14-15-20-14 = 63.

TEAM STATS: VIKINGS > FGs – 15/35; 3-PTs – 4/11; FTs – 4/8; AST – 8; REBs – 12; TO – 17; STLs – 5; BLKs – 0; FLs – 10.  Southeast of Saline > FGs – 26/56; 3-PTs – 4/13; FTs – 7/9; AST – 10; REBs – 34; TO – 10; STLs – 10; BLKs – 1; FLs – 12.

SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS: Scoring > Vincent Pickering – 9; Ki Blanchat – 9; Gus Griffith – 6; Kade Blanchat – 5; Ethan Able – 3; Karson Pihl – 2; Justice Autry – 2; Braxton House – 2.  3-Pointers Made > Pickering – 2; Ki Blanchat, Able – 1.  Assists > Ju. Autry – 3; Pihl – 2.  Rebounds > Griffith – 5; Ka. Blanchat – 4.  Steals > Pihl – 2.

SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS vs. Lyons at Sterling Invitational

SCORING: VIKINGS > 23-20-21-7 = 71; Lyons > 8-11-5-9 = 33.

TEAM STATS: VIKINGS > FGs – 27/41; 3-PTs – 8/13; FTs – 9/18; AST – 13; REBs – 24; TO – 9; STLs – 8; FLs – 9.  Lyons > FGs – 14/38; 3-PTs – 3/14; FTs – 2/6; AST – 7; REBs – 14; TO – 17; STLs – 5; FLs – 15.

SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS: Scoring > Karson Pihl – 14; Ki Blanchat – 11; Kade Blanchat – 8; Gus Griffith – 8; Justice Autry – 8; Vincent Pickering – 6; Braxton House – 6; Jerome Autry – 5; Ethan Able – 5.  3-Pointers Made > Pihl – 4; Ki Blanchat, Ju. Autry, Je. Autry, Able – 1.  Assists > Ki Blanchat, Pickering – 3; Pihl – 2.  Rebounds > Griffith – 6; Pihl, Ka. Blanchat, Samuel Peterson – 3; Ki Blanchat, House, Able – 2.  Steals > Pihl, Ka. Blanchat – 2.

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