The Fort Calhoun boys basketball team was happy to host the Blizzard Blowout tournament Dec. 29-30.
“Sometimes it's hard to win on the road, especially when you're on break,” the Pioneers' Wyatt Appel said. “But, when you're at home, it's a lot better.”
Even so, Howells-Dodge had the good fortune Dec. 30 during the tourney's title game. Tied with FCHS in overtime, the Jaguars (7-3 overall) won 53-50 when they hit the game-winner from near midcourt.
“Was proud of our kids' fight,” Pioneers coach TJ O'Connor said. “Need to take better care of the ball and just keep getting better.”
The coach also took blame in defeat, noting that he, too, needs to be better late in games.
Overall, junior Grayson Bouwman led Calhoun's offense with 20 points, while Appel scored eight. Howells' Lance Brester scored 15 in the win, while Colton Klosen made the winning bucket.
Before their shortcoming, however, the Pioneers routed Centura in the opening round of the tourney, 60-33. Bouwman had 18 points, Appel scored 14 and Glenn Hunter notched 13. The tallest of the three players, however, was most proud of how his squad slowed the Centurions' offense during a two-point second quarter.
“I thought we did really good defensively,” Appel said. “We really locked it down in the first half.”
FCHS led 32-14 at the break and 49-28 after three periods when the center dunked to close the quarter's scoring.
Appel and the Pioneers were scheduled to play again Tuesday, but winter weather postponed the game with the West Point-Beemer Cadets to Jan. 16.
FCHS BASKETBALL LINE SCORES
Dec. 30
Howells-Dodge 53, Fort Calhoun 50, OT
HD (7-3) 11 10 15 10 7 — 53
FCHS (5-4) 6 20 15 5 4 — 50
Scoring: FCHS — Grayson Bouwman 20, Wyatt Appel 8, Austin Welchert 5, Glenn Hunter 5, Asher Boswer 5, Zach Nelson 3, Adam Elofson 2, Declyn Otte 2.
HD — Lance Brester 15, Colton Klosen 11, Aandy Dominguez 8, Aiden Meyer 7, Oscar Dominguez 4, Brittin Sindelar 4, Connor Kreikemeier 2, Nathan Hegemann 2.
Dec. 29
Fort Calhoun 60, Centura 33
CENT (2-6) 12 2 14 5 — 33
FCHS (5-3) 14 18 17 11 — 60
Scoring: FCHS — Bouwman 18, Appel 14, Hunter 13, Welchert 8, Elofson 4, Otte 2, Nelson 1.
CENT — Jakob Ruhl 7, Kellen Fries 6, Jason Fanta 6, Carter Noakes 5, Weston Kroeger 4, Keaton Lemburg 3, Caden Ruhl 2.
