Goldbugs lose to the Longhorns 54-48

 

January 19, 2020

Desiree Morehead

Left: Alva's Braden Hofen (15) and and Chisholm's Nate Edwards (15) try to get the ball from the rebound. Middle: Austin Reed (13) takes flight to the basket during Friday night's game against Chisholm. Right: Alva's Kaden Slater (33) dribbles to the basket with Chisholm's WIll Staerkel (12) trying to keep up with him.

The Alva Goldbugs had a difficult first half Friday night as they played host to the Chisholm Longhorns. They managed to pull within one point at the end of the third quarter, but they couldn't pull out the win, losing 54-48.

In their last meeting against Chisholm at the Wheat Capital Tournament, Alva also lost by a narrow 66-64 margin. When the Goldbugs went to Chisholm in their first game of the season, Alva came out on top 50-41.

Coach Shane Feely later commented that the Goldbugs didn't play together as a team during the first half. He made some adjustments during halftime, and they were a more cohesive unit in the second half.

At the end of the first quarter, Chisholm led 12-6, and by halftime they had extended the lead to 24-14. In the third, the Goldbugs scored 20 points to Chisholm's 11 for a 34-33 lead, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Longhorns who won 54-48.

First Half

Although Alva controlled the tipoff, the Goldbugs couldn't score. Chisholm went on an eight point scoring run before Braden Hofen finally hit an Alva basket. Big Luke Balenti quickly answered with two. Cole Hague added two free throws, and Balenti hit another two points. The quarter ended with Chisholm leading 12-6.

At the beginning of the second period, no one was scoring. Longhorn Nate Edwards finally hit one of two free throws. Then Parker Warnock added a basket, and Chisholm led 15-9. Alva's Kaden Slater found the range from beyond the paint to score three points, and the score was 15-9. Edwards made a free throw and was later fouled as he made a basket to gain three more points. Slater was fouled and made both his free throw chances for an 18-11 spread.

Alva scored twice more from the free throw line. Meanwhile Bryce Morris and Hunter Combs each added treys for Chisholm, and the Longhorns led 24-14 at halftime.

Second Half

A different Alva team came out of the locker room to start the second half. Hofen immediately put two points on the board in a layup. Edwards answered with back-to-back baskets, but Jackson Feely put one in off the glass. Reece Martin was fouled while shooting and hit both free throws. The Goldbugs were within eight at 28-20.

After a timeout, Garrett Ritter scored on a nice jumper. Slater hit a basket and was fouled, making his third point on a free throw. Alva was now within three at 28-25. After attempts by both teams, Austin Reed tied the score at 28 with a three-pointer. Edwards unlocked the tie with a basket, but Feely tied it up again with two free throws.

Chisholm again pulled ahead with an Edwards basket and free throw. Feely and Martin each added a basket before the quarter ended. Alva led 34-33.

After Chuck Shelite opened the final quarter with an unsuccessful three-point attempt, Will Staerkel missed a Longhorn basket. He was fouled and made one of two free throws. Combs hit a three-pointer, and Chisholm led 37-34. Staerkel spread the Longhorn lead with a basket, but Martin sank an Alva three-pointer to pull within two at 39-37.

Combs scored on two free throws and a basket to widen the lead, but Martin hit a Goldbug trey to pull within three at 39-37. Combs went to the line and made two free throws. He then added two on a put-back for Chisholm. Slater tightened the score with a three-pointer for Alva for a 43-40 margin.

The Longhorns added two free throws; Slater and Feely each hit one free throw for Alva. However, Combs put a triple on the board, and Chisholm led 48-42 with less than two minutes to play.

Free throws by Daniels and Combs plus two from Kellen Epps increased the Longhorn lead to ten. Then Feely sank a three-pointer for Alva. Chisholm slowed down play, trying to hold the ball until the buzzer. Reed fouled a Longhorn player and took the bench with his fifth foul. Morris landed one of his two free throws. Hague sank a three-pointer for Alva to narrow the margin to five at 53-48.

To get possession of the ball, Martin fouled Epps. It was Martin's fifth so he was out of the game. Epps went to the line and made one of two attempts for the final score in Chisholm's favor of 54-48.

Wrap-Up

Slater and Feely were tied for Alva top scoring honors with 12 each. Others adding points were Martin with seven, Hague five, Hofen and Ritter four each, Reed three and Shelite one.

Edwards led the Chisholm scoring with 18 followed by Combs with 15, Balenti with six and Staerkel with five.

The Goldbugs are now 3-11 for the season with four losses in a row. They will take on Newkirk Tuesday in an Alva homecoming game at 8 p.m. On Thursday, the Goldbugs begin play in the Cashion County Line Tournament. They play Perry at 3 p.m.

 

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