Alva Review-Courier -

In an unusual Friday afternoon game, the Alva Goldbugs traveled to Timberlake High School in Helena to take on the Pioneer-Pleasant Vale Mustangs. The contest came about due to some basketball teams being in quarantine.

It was the first basketball game of the season for the Mustangs who were delayed by football playoffs. Alva came into the game with a 2-3 record after losing to Oklahoma Christian Academy Thursday night. Although Pioneer led by one point at halftime, the Goldbugs rallied in the third period and won the game 58-42.

The Alva Ladybugs had to quarantine after being exposed to Covid during the tournament at Oilton. This caused the cancellation of games against Newkirk, Fairview and Perry. Coach Shane Feely managed to schedule the Thursday game against OCA. Then Pioneer suggested the Friday game at Timberlake.

Timberlake was scheduled to play Ringwood in Helena Friday, but the Ringwood girls ended up in quarantine. Instead, the Timberlake girls scheduled a game with the Pioneer girls to be followed by the Timberlake boys against Ringwood. With no team to play, the Pioneer coach suggested the afternoon game against the Alva Goldbugs to be played at Timberlake.

Alva put the first points on the scoreboard with a basket from Braden Hofen. At the end of the first quarter, the Goldbugs led 12-8.

In the second quarter, Pioneer was down by six at 24-16. They held the Goldbugs scoreless while racking up points with a couple of free throws and a basket to pull within four points. Then Cash Hammock put them ahead when he was fouled as he made a basket. He sank the free throw to narrow Alva's lead to one. Austin Reed missed two chances at free throws for Alva. Hammock stuck another basket to put Pioneer in the lead 25-24 at the half.

At halftime, Charlie Shelite led the Alva scoring with seven followed by Cole Hague and Donald Blalock with five each. Kyler Penco had three while Reed and Hofen made two points each. Pioneer was led by Hammock with 11 points followed by Kolby Vestal with seven, Ty Dennett with three, Cal Dennett with two and Ty Parker with two.

Pioneer started off the third quarter with a Cal Dennett basket. Jackson Feely hit one from three-point range for Alva, and Ty Dennett added another basket. Hofen went to the free throw line and made both shots to tie the score at 29 all. A basket from Shelite and a couple of free throws by Vestal kept the score knotted at 31. Hammock put Pioneer in the lead with his basket, but Jaxson Jones scored twice to give the Goldbugs the margin. Blalock added a score from three-point range, and Penco hit a basket to widen the Alva lead to seven. Jones scored a basket, was fouled and sank the free throw to seal the Alva lead at 43-33 at the end of the third.

Although the Mustangs continued to hit some baskets, they were unable to contain the Goldbugs in the fourth quarter. Pioneer never came closer than eight points to the Alva score. Just before the game ended, Feely added a trey to widen the lead. Alva won 58-42.

Shelite had led the Goldbugs with 13 points for the game followed by Blalock with 11. Jones had nine and Feely had eight. Hague, Penco and Reed scored five each with Hofen adding four.

The Mustangs were led by Vestal with 16 followed by Hammock with 13 and Ty Dennett with seven. Cal Dennett, Parker and Samuel Vasquez scored two points each.

The Alva Goldbugs now have a 3-3 season record while Pioneer is 0-1. There was some discussion of trying to set up rescheduled games with Newkirk for Jan. 2 but that hasn't happened. So the Goldbugs and Ladybugs expect to play at home Tuesday, Jan. 5, against Blackwell.