Alva Review-Courier -

The Alva Goldbugs took on the Jones Longhorns in the first round of the Wheat Capital Tournament in Chisholm Thursday. The Goldbugs dominated the first quarter with a 25-7 score, and the Longhorns couldn’t catch up. Although Jones slightly outscored Alva in the second quarter, the Goldbugs led 40-24 at halftime. In the third period, Alva added 15 points to 12 for Jones to lead 55-36. Jones pushed hard in the final period, scoring 22 points to 19 for Alva but they couldn’t overcome the lead. The Goldbugs won 74-58.

First Half

The Goldbugs took advantage of weak defense on the outside, scoring seven times from three-point range in the first quarter. Kyler Penco started the Alva scoring with a triple followed by a basket from Creighton Jones for the Longhorns. Jones was fouled and hit the free throw to tie the game. Penco widened the lead with back-to-back treys, and Daylon Malone added another three-pointer to put Alva up 12-3. Penco sank another three but missed both shots when he went to the free throw line. Gage Jack scored for Jones. Philip Randall and Aiden Ruiz each went to the free throw line and each made one of two tries. Penco hit another three-pointer, and Alva led 20-5. Brinlee Sanders scored on two free throws for Jones. Malone missed two foul shots but scored a three-pointer on an assist by Aiden Faison. Alva’s Drew Glass was fouled and hit both free throws on a one-and-one. Alva led 25-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Jones sank two baskets for the Longhorns to start the second quarter. Penco went to the free throw line where he hit both shots. Riley Ellefson got on the scoreboard for Jones with a basket. Glass made an Alva layup, and Randall added another two points for the Goldbugs. Luke Debusk scored for Jones, and Alva led 31-15. Jaxon Jones, who sprained his ankle in a practice scrimmage, came in for Alva and scored a basket. Ruiz made one of two free throws for the Goldbugs. Debusk scored another Jones bucket. Malone scored on a jumper, and Alva led 36-17. Then Malone tallied his third foul, sending Michael Gaul to the free throw line following a basket. Gaul made the charity point, and the Alva lead was 16 at 36-20. Penco added another basket followed by two free throws from Ruiz. C. Jones made a couple of free throws for Jones, and Acyn Hansen scored two Longhorn points at the buzzer. Alva led 40-24 going into halftime.

Second Half

The teams traded scores to begin the second half. M. Gaul scored two points followed by two points by J. Jones on a Malone assist. Jayden Nathan sank the first Longhorn three-point shot. Ruiz made one of two free throws. A Jones player added a free throw, and Alva led 43-30. Malone made back-to-back baskets for Alva. M. Gaul scored for Jones, and Penco added an Alva bucket. Ruiz added two more Alva points. Ellefson hit a Jones basket followed by two points from Penco. Nathan made a basket, and Penco finished the scoring with two. Alva led 55-36 at the end of the third quarter.

C. Jones left the court for a short time with blood on his face. Meanwhile, Noah Gaul went to the foul line, making both free throws for the Longhorns. Randall was next at the charity stripe, adding one of two tries for Alva. N. Gaul then scored on a basket. Randall again went to the line and again made one of two shots. With four fouls, Malone had been sitting on Alva’s bench. He came back in and scored on a steal then scored again on another steal. C. Jones made a basket for Jones followed by one from Sanders and another from C. Jones. Alva’s lead was cut to 63-46. Malone scored a bucket followed by two free throws from C. Jones. Penco sank a three-pointer with an assist from Malone. Hansen scored for Jones but missed his foul shot. Malone added another basket on a defensive stick-back, and Alva led 68-50.

Penco went in for an Alva layup. Then Randall fouled out as he interfered with M. Gaul’s basket. M. Gaul made one of his two shots. With a 70-51 lead, Coach Shane Feely sent Penco and Malone back to the bench. Sanders scored for Jones. Then Goldbug Lantz Mathers made a basket. C. Jones hit both free throws from the line. M. Gaul added a three-pointer for the Longhorns. Mathers finished out the scoring with an Alva basket. The Goldbugs won 74-58.

Wrap-Up

The win moves the 9-1 Goldbugs into the semifinals of the winners’ bracket. They will take on John Marshall at 4:40 p.m. today (Friday) in Chisholm. The John Marshall Bears defeated Chisholm 60-54 on Thursday to advance.

The Alva team was led in scoring by Penco with 30 points followed by Malone with 20. Ruiz had seven and Randall five. Glass, J. Jones and Mathers had four points each.

Jones was led in scoring by C. Jones with 17 followed by M. Gaul with 11. Sanders had six and Nathan five. N. Gaul, C. Gaul, Ellefson and Hansen had four apiece while Jack had two.