Coach TJ O'Connor's Fort Calhoun boys basketball team stretched its winning streak to five games Saturday at Wisner-Pilger.
The Pioneers are 9-2 overall and haven't lost since Dec. 18.
Before its road trip, though, FCHS took care of Logan View/Scribner-Snyder on Thursday, 57-46, for its eighth win of the season. Coach O'Connor's team started the home game on a 10-0 run, lost its lead during the second period, but ultimately prevailed with defense and key buckets.
“A win's a win, but it wasn't pretty by any means,” sophomore Adam Elofson said. “I think we just knew we had to be dogs.”
After falling behind by 10 to start, the Raiders outscored Fort Calhoun by 11 across the next 31 points for a 21-20 lead. Grayson Bouwman assisted Colby Bentley to retake a home advantage on a scoreboard before completing and inside-out pass to Elofson for a 3-pointer.
Ahead 25-21, the Pioneers never trailed again. Elofson scored a putback bucket in the final seconds of the first half before Bouwman opened the third quarter with his own long-range make.
The Raiders would pull within one point again during the period, but Elofson scored a few buckets in a row as FCHS built its lead back out to 40-33.
“I took initiative and just did what I could,” the sophomore guard said.
A Bentley blocked shot highlighted the fourth period as the Pioneers finished off the 11-point home victory. Elofson scored 15 points, while Bouwman notched a game-high 20 and Bentley scored 13.
On Saturday, Bouwman totaled 24 points as Calhoun routed winless Wisner-Pilger on the road, 74-49. Bentley added 20 points and Elofson had 10.
The Pioneers led the road game 20-7 after one period and — after some struggles keeping the Gators off of the scoreboard during the second period — won the second half 36-17.
FCHS next competes today at Louisville before it hosts Omaha Brownell-Talbot on Jan. 15.
FCHS BOYS HOOPS LINE SCORES
Saturday
Fort Calhoun 74, Wisner-Pilger 49
FCHS (9-2) 20 18 24 12 — 74
W-P (0-10) 7 25 10 7 — 49
Scoring: FCHS — Grayson Bouwman 24, Colby Bentley 20, Adam Elofson 10, Blake Welchert 8, Declyn Otte 6, Eli Tinkham 2, Chase Premer 2, Travis Skelton 2.
W-P — Jaxon Knoell 20, Jase Alexander 9, Brandon Stoffel 6, Regan Raabe 6, Carter Cleveland 2.
Thursday
Fort Calhoun 57, Logan View/Scribner-Snyder 46
LVSS (4-7) 12 10 15 9 — 46
FCHS (8-2) 14 13 15 15 — 57
Scoring: FCHS — Bouwman 20, Elofson 15, Bentley 13, Skelton 5, Otte 4.
LVSS — Grayson Kraus 16, Kolton Kriete 13, Josh Egbars 8, Max Lange 5, Truman Young 2, Cooper Kahlandt 2.
