The Fort Calhoun High School boys basketball team led by as many as 10 points during the second half of Tuesday's home loss to Yutan.
The Chieftains (3-1 overall) earned the comeback victory with a 12-to-4 fourth period, finishing out ahead 48-44 overall. The loss dropped the Pioneers to 1-4 this season with one game left to go during the 2024 portion of their schedule.
“I thought we moved the ball well offensively, especially early in the game,” FCHS coach TJ O'Connor said. “We shared it. We attacked it. We were aggressive.”
The aggressiveness dissipated late, however, he added.
“All you can do is go back and practice tomorrow,” O'Connor said.
Calhoun went ahead 42-36 on Blake Welchert's fourth-quarter free throws before Yutan went on its game-deciding run. It scored seven-straight points before Adam Elofson put the home squad ahead, 44-43, on a bucket inside with 46 seconds left in the contest.
The Chieftains instantly responded, though, with Carson Jurey sinking the go-ahead corner 3-pointer. The Pioneers turned the ball over on their next possession and, ultimately, lost for the fourth time this winter.
“We're going to have to go back to work and keep competing,” O'Connor said. “Our kids will do that. We'll get there. There's no doubt there's a really good basketball team in there.”
The Pioneers — who were led by Travis Skelton's 14 points Tuesday — next host David City today at 7:30 p.m. It's their last game of December.
FCHS BASKETBALL LINE SCORE
Tuesday
Yutan 48, Fort Calhoun 44
YHS (3-1) 12 6 18 12 — 48
FCHS (1-4) 11 11 18 4 — 44
Scoring: FCHS — Travis Skelton 14, Adam Elofson 10, Dylan Keyser 6, Blake Welchert 6, Kade Foy 5, Eli Tinkham 3.
YHS — Carson Jurey 13, AJ Arensberg 13, Derrick Seay 10, Nathan Daniell 10, Tyler Witt 2.
