Fort Calhoun High School substitutes filled the floor Tuesday, closing out a 34-point basketball victory at West Point-Beemer.
Bench players Eli Tinkham, Chase Premer, Morgan Ishii and Blake Welchert all scored fourth-quarter buckets as FCHS earned a 66-32 victory. Coach TJ O'Connor's Pioneers improved to 7-2 overall with the win.
Starter Grayson Bouwman, however, led Calhoun with 23 total points. The senior closed out the first period with a straightaway, step-back 3-pointer just before the buzzer.
The Pioneers were set to play Thursday, but also next compete Saturday at Wisner-Pilger.
Pioneers win Blizzard Blowout
FCHS ended 2023 with a Blizzard Blowout Holiday Tournament title, besting its host, Sandy Creek, on Saturday in the championship game.
The Pioneers 18-5 after one period and secured a nine-point victory against the 7-2 Class C2 team, 46-37. Bouwman led coach O'Connor's team with 18 points in the win, while Colby Bentley scored 11. Adam Elofson added eight points as well.
To reach the Blizzard Blowout finals, the Pioneers knocked off Class D1 No. 2 Howells-Dodge on Dec. 29, 54-40. They outscored the Jaguars 23-7 during the first quarter and held them off from there, giving the consolidated school just its second loss of the season.
FCHS, meanwhile, improved to 2-2 against teams with winning records before facing Class C2's ninth-ranked team in the championship game a day later and improving to 3-2. Bouwman led the Pioneers with 12 points against Howells-Dodge, while Declyn Otte and Bentley each scored 10.
FCHS BOYS HOOPS LINE SCORES
Tuesday
Fort Calhoun 66, West Point-Beemer 32
FCHS (7-2) 15 14 17 20 — 66
WPB (4-6) 7 8 9 8 — 32
Scoring: FCHS — Grayson Bouwman 23, Colby Bentley 12, Adam Elofson 10, Declyn Otte 9, Morgan Ishii 3, Travis Skelton 3, Eli Tinkham 2, Chase Premer 2, Blake Welchert 2.
WPB — Belize Brockman 9, Colten Haber 7, Peyton Penrose 6, Connor Troyer 4, Brayden Doggett 3, Hunter Swanson 2, Max Peterson 1.
Saturday
Fort Calhoun 46, No. 9 Sandy Creek 37
FCHS (6-2) 18 4 15 9 — 46
SD (7-2) 5 10 12 10 — 37
Scoring: FCHS — Bouwman 18, Bentley 11, Elofson 8, Tinkham 6, Otte 2, Skelton 1.
SD — Ethan Shaw 18, Jacob Petr 5, Owen Oglesby 5, Zachery Corman 5, Kadeden Schmidt 3, Oliver Oglesby 1.
Dec. 29
Fort Calhoun 54, No. 2 Howells-Dodge 40
FCHS (5-2) 23 8 13 10 — 54
H-D (7-2) 7 10 15 8 — 40
Scoring: FCHS — Bouwman 12, Otte 10, Bentley 10, Skelton 9, Elofson 8, Tinkham 3, Premer 2.
H-D — Unavailable.
