The Hills-Beaver Creek boys’ basketball team wrapped up the regular season this past week with a 69-61 victory over Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda on Thursday, March 11, and a 72-53 loss to Westbrook-Walnut Grove on Saturday, March 13.
H-BC 69, HLOF 61
The contest was a first-round preview in Hills on Thursday, March 11. The Patriots and Coyotes are scheduled to face each other in the opening round of the 3A Section Tournament on Thursday, March 18.
The Patriots picked up the victory in this matchup with a 69-61 home victory.
After the first 18 minutes, the Patriots held a slim 31-30 lead.
In the second half, the Patriots outscored their opponent 38-31 to pick up the 69-61 victory.
Oliver Deelstra scored 19 points and grabbed five rebounds for the Patriots.
Zander Wysong scored 19 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds for H-BC.
Cole Baker chipped in with nine points. Ty Bundesen scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds.
WWG 72, H-BC 53
The Patriots put up a valiant effort against the Chargers on Saturday, March 13. In the end, that effort wasn’t enough to overcome a WWG team that couldn’t miss from three-point land in the second half, as the Chargers picked up a 72-53 road victory.
The visiting Chargers opened the game by knocking down a three-pointer, a sign of things to come.
Deelstra scored the next time down the floor for the Patriots to get H-BC on the board.
Another Deelstra bucket cut WWG’s lead to 8-4.
Following Deelstra’s basket, the Chargers went on a 12-0 run to open up a 20-4 lead.
Baskets from Wysong and Baker trimmed WWG’s lead to 20-8.
The Chargers answered back with another three-pointer to push their lead to 15, at 23-8.
At the half, the Chargers held a 33-20 lead.
The Patriots scored the first five points of the second half.
A Deelstra three-point play followed up by a pair of Wysong free throws cut WWG’s lead to 33-25.
The Chargers responded by hitting three straight three-pointers to open up a 42-25 lead.
Unfortunately for the Patriots they were unable to get back within striking distance as the Chargers picked up the 72-53 victory.
Baker finished the game with 14 points for the Patriots.
Deelstra had nine points and nine rebounds.
The Patriots finished the regular season with a 9-8 record. They are heading into the section tournament as winners of five of their last six games, including an eight-point victory over their first-round opponent, the Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda Coyotes.
“We are playing really hard,” H-BC head coach Steve Wiertzema said. “We have been in most games this year, but our depth has been an issue. Having Oliver Deelstra back from his ankle injury has helped.”
H-BC 31 38 69
HLOF 30 31 61
Scoring: Deelstra 19; Wysong 19; Baker 9; Bundesen 7; Harris 6; Leenderts 5
Rebounds: Wysong 9; Deelstra 5; Bundesen 5
Assists: Harris 5; Raymon 4
Steals: Harris 6; Bundesen 3
H-BC 20 33 53
WWG 33 39 72
Scoring: Baker 14; Deelstra 9; Harris 8; Wysong 7; Bundesen 6
Rebounds: Deelstra 9
Assists: Wysong 3
Steals: Deelstra 1; Wysong 1