Junior high teams from Arlington and Fort Calhoun waged the first cross-county basketball battles of the new, 2021-22 season Tuesday.
The Eagles beat the Pioneers three times at Fort Calhoun High School under the direction of coaches Kenny Fuchser and Jacob Duhey. The Arlington A squad won 43-29 after the B and C lineups won 34-28 and 17-9, respectively.
The Eagles won the nightcap despite trailing 23-21 at halftime. The Pioneers' Eli Tinkham hit a 3-pointer for the game's first bucket before Oliver Ladehoff pulled his squad within 3-2.
Arlington led 13-9 after one period, but Calhoun recaptured the lead when Kaiden Rodriguez and Colby Bentley hit back-to-back 3s to start the second. The Pioneers led through the end of the first half, but their advantage was cut to two points when Parker Robinson scored a putback before the break.
From there, the Eagles outscored the home team — which is coached by Chris Eastman and Roy Prauner — 22-6. Adam Elofson gave his team the lead for good during the third period when he forced a turnover and converted it into a 3-point make on the opposite end.
Arlington also led the B game 10-3 after one period and never gave up its advantage. Wes Monke helped his team to its advantage, knocking down multiple 3-pointers, including the one that put the Eagles ahead 29-19 during the final quarter.
A late Fort Calhoun bucket by Presley Olberding cut Arlington's lead to four, but it held on for the six point win.
The Eagles' C squad also held on for its eight-point win despite the Pioneers winning the fourth period, 7-4.
Tuesday's competition was Fort Calhoun's second and Arlington's first of the young junior high season. The seventh- and eighth-grade basketball schedules continue through mid-December.
