A new Fort Calhoun boys basketball season begins tonight at Fremont Bergan.
First, though, the Pioneers tested themselves with four periods of Jamboree exhibition play Monday on their home floor. Coach TJ O'Connor's team beat the Oakland-Craig Knights 30-20 across two periods of play before the Ralston Rams edged them 37-33 in two more.
FCHS junior Grayson Bouwman, a returning Class C1 All-Stater, scored 32 points across what amounted to a full game. He had 16 with a made 3-pointer against the Knights before going 6-for-8 from the foul line against the Rams.
Senior Wyatt Appel was similarly consistent from a scoring standpoint, going for six points in each game of the preseason triangular event. Freshman Adam Elofson notched four points against Oakland, too, while Austin Welchert, Travis Skelton, Sam Genoways, Declyn Otte and Glenn Hunterscored two apiece against Ralston.
Fort Calhoun reached the NSAA State Championships for the first time in 99 years last season and finished fourth in Class C1. Now, O'Connor's team opens a new campaign 8 p.m. today at Bergan. Fremont's Knights went 14-9 last season.
FCHS BASKETBALL LINE SCORES
Monday
Ralston 37, Fort Calhoun 33 (2 periods)
Scoring: FCHS — Grayson Bouwman 16, Wyatt Appel 6, Austin Welchert 2, Travis Skelton 2, Sam Genoways 2, Declyn Otte 2, Glenn Hunter 2, Zach Nelson 1.
Fort Calhoun 30, Oakland-Craig 20 (2 periods)
Scoring: FCHS — Bouwman 16, Appel 6, Adam Elofson 4, Colby Bentley 2, Hunter 2.
