After-RPAC 'hangover' hits some top area hoops teams

TWOOD, Kan. — Could a true hoops hangover hit after last weekend’s RPAC basketball championships?

It clearly appeared to reach Bertrand, where the Vikings where undefeated champ Maywood-Hayes Center had a rematch of Saturday’s boys title game.

The Wolves roared through a 30-16 first half while appearing ready to top their 57-43 finals win.

Instead, spirited Bertrand spoiled this plan with a 32-18 second half.

The Vikings (9-7 record) forced overtime then edged MayHay, 57-55, Tuesday evening.

Coach Kolby Hamilton’s suffered their first defeat in 19 contests.

Senior Hayden Kramer missed the rematch for personal business after touching the Graff Events Center nets for 22 points Saturday.

The Wolves still attacked with sophomore Jon Patel’s 14 points, 14 from junior Haydn Farr and senior point guard Jhett Sellers scoring 13.

Sellers swished three shots from beyond the arc while Patel hit six of seven field goals inside.

Yet the Vikings limited MayHay’s other sharpshooters as junior Jeremiah Ingison netted nine points.

Bertrand’s 57 points were second most scored vs. M-HC (18-1) besides Dundy County-Stratton totaling 58 during their RPAC semifinal Friday.

However, the Tigers were facing their own Tuesday trouble against visiting 5-10 Southwest.

Senior Cole Barnett’s 17 points powered the potential upset as he shot 75 percent with three of four makes from three-point range.

Senior Kaden Day dropped in 11 points while five other Roughriders hit shots.

Besides his six points, senior Kaiden Ruggles corraled a team-high 13 rebounds.

Junior Nathan Rippe and freshman Krayton Ruggles netted four more points apiece.

Yet the Tigers prevailed 49-47 to reach 15-3 this season. Those three defeats are all to Maywood-Hayes Center.

No Tiger individual stats were obtained.

Barnett also swiped three steals and delivered four assists for 5-11 Southwest.

The Southwest girls (12-6) did win 39-22 over DC-S Tuesday.

Senior Caylin Barnett’s 16 points powered this road win with sophomore Allison VanPelt adding eight.

Freshman Kyra Nelms (seven points), senior Bailey Truksa (six) and sophomore Anastasia Gallegos (two) helped finish this low-scoring contest.

Southwest went 7-for-7 at the foul line where VanPelt made four of four.

DC-S (5-13) had won five of its previous eight. No individual stats were obtained.

Other area basketball action on Tuesday:

A split in Atwood

Both Rawlins County, Kan., teams are 10-5 following their varsity split against Hitchcock County.

The R.C. girls were 53-24 winners behind junior Abby Micek’s 18 points with sophomore Tayten Dewey tossing in 11.

Freshman Kayte Shively has become another new Buffaloes force. She hit baskets during all four quarters en route to nine points.

Senior Michaela Rippe added five points and junior Kaci Dirks four.

Freshman Raegan Hagan shot eight points through the Atwood nets for 4-13 Hitchcock.

Juniors Byanka Tyan (five) and Katie Jarecke (four) teamed for nine.

The Hitchccock boys evened this doubleheader when they downed Rawlins, 58-49.

Senior Trent Kisker dominated for 23 points, but how about 12 of 12 fourth-quarter free throws from freshmen Adam Kisker, Jace Hauxwell and senior Keynan Gaston.

Hauxwell tallied 11 points with Kisker scoring 10 and Gaston nine.

The Falcons raised their record to 10-6.

Rawlins featured Brayan Rodriguez’s 18 points including nine during the first quarter.

Teammate Braxton Dixson poured in 13.

Trojans triumph

BERTRAND, Neb. — Cambridge’s girls conquered the Bertrand Vikings, 42-35, for their 10th win this season.

The Trojans (10-7) rallied following tough RPAC losses to Southern Valley and Alma last weekend. No individual stats were obtained about Tuesday’s win.

Bertrand fell to 1-13.

Warriors stumble

ALMA, Neb. — The improving Arapahoe Warriors lost to those Alma girls who were both seeded No. 1 entering RPAC tourney play.

Alma’s girls (13-2) topped Arapahoe, 59-39, though junior Berkley Warner scored 20 Warrior points.

Junior Sabrina Jacobsen and sophomore Sage Larson slipped in six points apiece but couldn’t stop their team from falling back to 9-9.

Senior Emerson Swanson totaled five points and four assists.

Chase into buzzsaw

BRIDGEPORT, Neb. — The Chase County girls are now 9-7 following a nasty 61-26 loss at powerhouse Bridgeport.

No other details were obtained.

Red Devils rule

DIGHTON, Kan. — The Decatur Community (Kan.) Red Devils are 10-5 thanks to their 44-23 swatting of Dighton Hornets Tuesday.

Decatur-Oberlin took a 15-4 lead through one quarter and finished with an excellent 12-2 final period.

Nothing individually was obtained for today’s Gazette.

The Hornets’ buzz didn’t last long as they are now 4-11.

Dighton boys (9-6) did deliver a 60-39 victory over Decatur in Tuesday’s varsity finale.

The Red Devils (2-12) saw their two-game winning streak end.

Watch for more in upcoming editions.