Ark Valley News - Middle school boys win three against Derby

Middle school boys win three against Derby
By The News staff
Last Updated: February 01, 2018

The Valley Center Middle School boys' basketball teams are finishing up the regular season and preparing to host the Pioneer League II tournament Feb. 3.

The Hornets won two games against McPherson at home Jan. 25 and won three against Derby at home Jan. 29.

Valley Center will host Goddard Eisenhower Feb. 1 before being seeded in the tournament.

Eighth grade — The eighth-grade "A" team fell to McPherson 53-37.

The Hornets trailed 17-10 after the first quarter and 35-18 at the half. Valley Center outscored McPherson 19-18 in the second half.

Dale Petrie led the Hornets with eight points. Isaiah Vaughn chipped in seven, Austin King, Noah Simmons, Kade Wilson and Sam Bass four each, Zack Romig three, Davin Schmelzle two and Elai Alvarado one.

Valley Center beat Derby 57-42.

The Hornets led all the way, jumping out to a 24-15 halftime advantage and holding on with a big, 19-point fourth quarter.

Petrie led three Hornets in double figures with 14 points. Vaughn finished with 12 and Wilson 11. King chipped in eight, Romig four and Martin, Bass, Alvarado and Gillig two each.

The "A" team is 3-9.

The eighth-grade "B" team defeated McPherson 52-35.

The Hornets turned an 8-8 tie into a 19-14 lead with an 11-6 run in the second quarter. Valley Center kept up the pressure in the second half, outscoring McPherson 20-10 in the third quarter.

Bass finished with 18 points to lead the Hornets. Jacob Ranzau and Schmelzle added eight each, and Caden Schuessler, Alvarado, Donivin Hopewell and Gillig four each.

The "B" team also beat Derby 54-25.

Valley Center controlled the game from the tip, leading 35-10 at halftime and cruising to the win.

Ranzau scored 14 points for the Hornets. Bass added 10, Hopewell seven, Eli Wilhite five, Schuessler four, and Landon Arbuckle and Garrett Fitch two each.

The "B" team is 5-9.

Seventh grade — The seventh-grade "A" team fell behind early and couldn't recover, losing to McPherson 49-15.

The Hornets trailed 27-6 at the half.

Max Preheim and Dawson Petrie had four each, Jacob Rutschman, Brayden Boone and Camden Waterson had two each and Caleb Saner had one.

Valley came up short against Derby, losing 34-28.

The Hornets kept pace with Derby until the third quarter, when they were outscored 11-3.

Rutschman led the Hornets with 12 points. Preheim added 11 and Petrie five.

The "A" team is 1-11.

The seventh-grade "B" team came from behind to snare a 29-27 win over McPherson.

The Hornets let a 15-13 halftime lead disappear in the third quarter. But down by two going into the fourth, Valley outscored McPherson 10-6 for the victory.

Waterson finished with nine points to lead Valley. Mason Ehrstein added five, Saner and Davis four each, Avry Lewis three, and Cooper Reeves and Braden Rios two each.

Valley followed the success with a 36-13 victory over Derby.

Valley led 17-6 at halftime and outscored Derby 19-7 in the second half.

Tate Tyler led the Hornets with seven points. Waterson had six, Davis, Saner and Reeves four each, and Tommy Spratt and Joshua Hailey two each.

The "B" team, which has won its last three games, is 4-10.