With the ball on the opposite wing, beyond the 3-point line, a backside Syracuse Rocket moved up away from from the baseline he was defending.
Fort Calhoun boys basketball senior Michael Shirley noticed.
“I just saw a little gap, and I decided I should probably cut in there,” the 6-foot-2 guard said. “Then (Carsen) Schwarz threw a good pass and we did it a couple more times after that.”
The Pioneers broke down the Rockets' defense with backside cuts and layups early Saturday afternoon, jumping out to a 20-7 first-period lead and earning a 77-56 win. The victory earned coach TJ O'Conner's team a spot in the eight-team, championship bracket of the Nebraska Capitol Conference Tournament.
“We just moved the ball really well today,” Shirley said. He scored 14 points, including two on the aforementioned back cut to start Saturday's scoring.
Fort Calhoun's offensive success extended beyond the 20-point first quarter with a 19-point second and 22-point third. In addition to its inside buckets, the Pioneers knocked down 10 3-pointers.
Zane Schwarz — who scored a game-high 18 points — knocked down two long-range shots as did Shirley and varsity newcomer Glenn Hunter. Harrison Schmitt, Grayson Bouwman, Carsen Schwarz and Brant Hilzendeger — who notched 17 total points — added one 3 apiece, too.
“When we have guys hitting from the outside, it just opens up completely in the inside,” Hilzendeger noted.
The 21-point victory pushed the Pioneers' season record to 7-7, while Syracuse fell to 3-9.
Hilzendeger scores 1,000th point in win
A day earlier, Hilzendeger tallied his 1,000th career point Friday as the Pioneers earned a 45-40 win at Conestoga.
“It felt really good,” the senior said. “I've been working a long time for it.”
The 6-foot-4 post player finished with a game-high 20 points as FCHS picked up its sixth win of the season.
“As a freshman, you look at (1,000 points) and you're like, 'I don't know if I'm going to hit that,' but I got there,” Hilzendeger said. “I've got to credit my teammates, Carsen especially. I've got to say he's probably the best passer in (Class) C1.”
In addition, Zane Schwarz knocked down the go-ahead 3-pointer late in the game and finished with 16 points, while Schmitt added five.
Conestoga led 24-23 at halftime, but couldn't hold off the Pioneers who outscored the Cougars 12-8 during the fourth period.
