BEARCATS WIN, WILL FACE VIBORG-HURLEY FRIDAY NIGHT
Freeman Academy/Marion overcame a slow start and took out Gayville-Volin 59-51 at Sterling Hall Tuesday night, March 2. The No. 2 Bearcats and No. 6 Raiders were close most of the way before FA/Marion built a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, holding off a Gayville-Volin surge late.
The Raiders scored the first eight points of the game.
The Bearcats will take a 15-6 record into the third round of the tournament Friday night, March 5 at Freeman Public. They will face No. 2 Viborg-Hurley in the second game of the night; the first will feature No. 1 Canistota against No. 4 Bridgewater-Emery at 5:30 p.m.
Quincy Blue had 24 points, with Thalen Schroeder and Payton Arbach chipping in 12 and 10, respectively.
First-round action
Freeman Public and Menno saw their seasons come to an end in the first round of the Region 5B Boys Basketball Tournament Monday night, March 1. The No. 11-seed Flyers lost to No. 6 Gayville-Volin 58-39 in Gayville while No. 8 Menno lost to No. 9 Centerville 65-54 in Menno.
Freeman was without a player in double figures; Jacob Swensen led the way with seven points while Ethan Balvin and Brady Kaufman each had six. Seniors Teagan Derry had six rebounds and Collin Helma and five points, five rebounds and two steals in their final high school games. Kaufman added five steals and a pair of blocks.
For Menno, Josh Heckenlaible had 19 points and Brady Fergen added 12 to lead the Wolves. Kayden Ulmer had nine rebounds and Ulmer and Levi Bender tallied six and five assists. Menno led 40-39 after three but was outscored 26-14 in the final eight minutes.
Gayville-Volin (9-12) will face No. 3 Freeman Academy/Marion (14-6) at Freeman Academy Tuesday night while Centerville (8-13) will travel to Canistota to face the top-seed Hawks (18-2).
Tuesday’s other two games feature No. 4 Bridgewater (12-8) hosting No. 5 Alcester-Hudson (8-12) and No. 2 Viborg-Hurley (14-5) hosting No. 7 Irene-Wakonda (6-15); the Eagles beat No. 10 Scotland (5-15) 50-32 in Monday’s other opening-round game.
Tipoff is at 7 p.m. for all four games.
Tuesday’s winners will play at Freeman Public Friday night at 5:30 p.m. and approximately 7:30 p.m.
Freeman Public finishes its season 0-21; the Flyers have won once in their last 41 games.
Menno finishes its season 5-16.
