By Staff
NICKERSON – The Smoky Valley boys went on the road to Nickerson on Friday and scored a decisive 28-point, 64-36 win.
With the win the Vikings are now 9-5 on the season and head into the final two weeks of regular schedule play with a Tuesday home battle against Hoisington followed by a Friday road trip to Haven.
Smoky Valley jumped out early and gained an 11-point, 21-10 lead by the end of the first quarter and pushed up to a 14-point advantage at 36-22 heading into the halftime break. Outscoring Nickerson 20-6 in the third quarter, the Vikings were able to double up the Nickerson scoring by taking a commanding 28-point, 56-28 lead heading into the final quarter where they held it even for the victory.
One of the strengths of the game for Smoky Valley came from shooting a hot 50% from beyond the three point line where they made 9-of-18 including three by Jerome Autry.
Three Vikings shared the lead in scoring as Jerome Autry, Vincent Pickering and Ki Blanchat each scored 13 points while Karson Pihl made it four Vikings in double digits with 10. Pihl also topped the team in dishing out assists with eight while Kade Blanchat led Smoky Valley for work in the paint by gathering in seven rebounds.
SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS at Nickerson
SCORING: VIKINGS > 21-15-20-8 = 64; Nickerson > 10-12-6-8 = 36.
SMOKY VALLEY VIKING TEAM STATS > 2-FGs – 13/28; 3-PTs – 9/18; FTs – 11/15; AST – 15; REBs – 24; TO – 12; STLs – 13; BLKs – 6; FLs – 10.
SMOKY VALLEY VIKING INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS: Scoring > Jerome Autry – 13; Vincent Pickering – 13; Ki Blanchat – 13; Karson Pihl – 10; Kade Blanchat – 9; Ethan Able – 2; Braxton House – 2; Heitschmidt – 2. 3-Pointers Made > Je. Autry – 3; Pickering, Ki Blanchat, Pihl – 2. Assists > Pihl – 8; Ki Blanchat – 2; five players – 1. Rebounds > Ka. Blanchat – 7; Able, Ki Blanchat – 4; Je. Autry, House – 2. Steals > Je. Autry, Pihl – 3; Pickering, Ki Blanchat – 2; three players – 1. Blocked Shots > Ka. Blanchat – 3; Ki Blanchat, Heitschmidt, Mason Holcom – 1.
(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)