Finish 11-10 on season
By Staff
NORTON – On Tuesday, the Smoky Valley boys struggled getting the ball in the basket as they closed out their 2022-23 season in their Class 3A sub-state quarterfinal with a 10-point, 43-33 loss on the road at Norton.
In losing the Vikings close the season 11-10 while Norton (14-7) will move on to play Beloit (16-5) in the sub-state semifinals with Southeast of Saline (20-1) and Russell (14-7) being the other two teams still alive.
Down by four at 10-6 at the end of the first quarter, the Vikings knocked a point off the deficit and only trailed by three, 19-16, heading into the break at halftime. Norton put some distance from Smoky Valley in the third quarter and then cruised in while giving the Vikings the final 10-point loss.
Smoky Valley sputtered in making shots from the field, putting just 27% of 49 attempts through the net.
While no Viking player reached double digits in the scorebook, both Ki Blanchat and Karson Pihl just missed with nine points each. Kade Blanchat led the Vikings in the paint by grabbing eight rebounds.
SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS at Norton in Class 3A Sub-State Quarterfinals
SCORING: VIKINGS > 6-10-7-10 = 33; Norton > 10-9-15-9 = 43.
TEAM STATS: VIKINGS > 2-FGs – 10/32; 3-PTs – 3/16; FTs – 4/7; AST – 10; REBs – 29; TO – 9; STLs – 5; BLKs – 1; FLs – 13. Norton > 2-FGs – 10/30; 3-PTs – 6/20; FTs – 5/7; AST – 9; REBs – 32; TO – 13; STLs – 7; BLKs – 3; FLs – 10.
SMOKY VALLEY VIKING INDIVIDUAL STATS: Scoring > Ki Blanchat – 9; Karson Pihl – 9; Vincent Pickering – 5; Braxton House – 4; Gus Griffith – 4; Kade Blanchat – 2. 3-Pointers Made > Ki Blanchat – 2; Pihl – 1. Assists > Kade Blanchat, Pihl – 3; Ki Blanchat, Pickering, Justice Autry, Ethan Able – 1. Rebounds > Kade Blanchat – 8; Griffith – 5; Pihl – 4; Ki Blanchat, Pickering, House, Autry – 3. Steals > Kade Blanchat – 3; Pihl – 2. Blocked Shots > Ki Blanchat – 1.
(The Staff covering events for the MAC AREA SPORTS NEW can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)