Alva Review-Courier -

In their first home game since Jan. 12, Goldbugs Kyler Penco and Daylon Malone made short work of the Tonkawa Buccaneers Tuesday night. Tonkawa was held to four points in the first quarter while the Alva duo scored 18 points. They accounted for 12 of Alva's 14 points in the second quarter to lead 32-12 at halftime. Although the Buccaneers stepped up their game to score 16 points in the third quarter, the Goldbugs smothered them with 25 points. With Alva sending in players from the bench, the two teams were close in fourth-quarter scoring, but Alva won 71-40.

First Half

Malone stole the ball and went for the basket to start the contest. Penco added a left-handed layup. Dominic Grein slipped through the defense to score for Tonkawa. Penco added another basket on an Aiden Ruiz lob. Kyle Dollarhyde scored for Tonkawa. Then Alva went on a 12 point run begun by Malone with a trey. Penco added two points off a Malone steal and pass. Then Malone scored on a put back plus the resulting foul shot. Both Malone and Penco scored again to end the quarter with the Goldbugs leading 18-4.

The Alva team scored 12 unanswered points to begin the second quarter. Malone started with a three from the left wing. Penco added a jump shot and sank a trey from the right wing. Following a Penco layup, Jaxon Jones scored for Alva to extend the lead to 30-4. Grein went to the free throw line and made two Tonkawa points. Ryan Morgan hit two baskets in a row to give the Bucs ten points. Grein added another two. Penco finished out the half with a layup, and the Goldbugs went into the break leading 22-12.

Second Half

In the fast-paced third quarter, the Goldbugs added 25 points. Malone was hot, scoring ten points on baskets. Penco added two baskets and two free throws. Jones scored again. Weston Tucker and Drew Glass each hit baskets and Ruiz scored three on a basket and foul shot. Morgan found three-point range for the Buccaneers, making six points. Grein worked hard, making eight points for the Bucs, and Eli Pappaw added a basket. At the end of the third quarter, Alva's lead was extended to 57-28.

Desiree Morehead

Alva's Jordan Lohmann (10) makes his way down the court, looking for help from this teammates.

The Goldbugs gave some younger players time on the court in the fourth quarter. But Alva still added 14 points to 12 for Tonkawa. Goldbug Lantz Mathers started the scoring on a Drake Wharton assist. Then Wharton stole the ball and put it through the hoop himself. Drew Glass scored a three-point shot from the left wing. Dollarhyde was fouled on a three attempt and made two of his three shots. Mathers landed another basket, and Alva led 66-30.

Tonkawa's Grein added two points, and Morgan hit one of two free throw attempts. After baskets from Hudson Feely and Kade Parker plus a Parker free throw, Tonkawa scored one more time. Alva took the 71-40 win to increase their season record to 17-3.

Wrap-Up

Both Malone and Penco scored 23 points to lead the Goldbugs. Glass had five points while Jones and Mathers each had four. Ruiz and Parker finished with three points apiece. Tucker, Wharton and Feely each had two.

For Tonkawa, Grein led with 16 followed by Morgan with 13. Dollarhyde had four, Freeman three and Caden Duvall two.

The Goldbugs are on the road tonight as they travel to take on Frontier. Game is 8 p.m.