1A hoops report

The Otis High School boys basketball team keeps staying in the hunt for the postseason beyond district.

Otis beat neighboring Lone Star 88-47 this past Tuesday to improve to 9-5, and is ranked No. 16 in the Class 1A CHSAA Selection & Seeding Index. The Bulldogs hit the road to Peetz today, February 8, at Prairie on Saturday and 2A No. 2 Merino on Tuesday.

They lost a key game at WashCo rival Arickaree, 70-66, last Friday. They fell behind 41-24 before mounting a comeback in the second half that came up short. Charlie Kendrick had 24 points, three assists and three steals, Sawyer Packer 15 points and 12 rebounds, Gavin Price eight points, Grady Bechtle six points and two each of rebounds, steals and assists, Mitchell Stivers six points and two assists, Austin Hornung five points, five rebounds and four assists, and Jacob Perry two points.

Otis hosted Hi-Plains on Saturday, cruising to a 70-41 win. Kendrick had 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists, Packer 14 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, Hornung 12 points and four assists, Stivers 11 points and four assists, Bechtle nine points and eight rebounds, Cambric Klinzmann four points and three rebounds, Emanuel Varela two points, Price two points and Jacoby Perry two points.

ARICKAREE BOYS

Arickaree’s boys basketball team keeps piling up the wins this season.

The Bison are in great shape for the second seed in the YWKC district tournament, as well as advancing to regional. They entered this week 13-2 overall and ranked No. 12 in the Class 1A CHSAA Selection & Seeding Index. They host Hanover on Saturday, and are home again Monday against Denver Waldorf. They finished YWKC League play with a 4-1 record.

The Bison hosted WashCo rival Otis last Friday, pulling out a 70-66 win to close out their league schedule. They raced out to a 41-24 lead, only to get outscored by 13 in the third quarter before holding off the Bulldogs down the stretch.

Nic Hermes had 21 points and five rebounds, Austin Wright 16 points and six rebounds, Dillon Noletubby 15 points and three rebounds, Zarron Skubal eight points and nine rebounds, Jake King seven points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals, Yarin Quinteros two points, and Jorge Ramos one point, five rebounds and four assists.

LONE STAR BOYS

Lone Star’s boys were sitting at three wins entering this past Tuesday’s game at neighboring Otis.

The Longhorns host Flagler on Saturday, and Prairie on Tuesday. They ended up losing 88-47 at Otis.

Results of last Saturday’s game at Deer Trail were not available as of press time.

ARICKAREE GIRLS

Arickaree’s girls basketball team keeps staying above .500 entering the final weeks of the regular season.

The Bison entered this week 9-6 and No. 17 in the Class 1A Selection & Seeding Index, well within range of advancing to regional even if they do not win district. They host Hanover on Saturday and are home again Monday against Denver Waldorf.

Arickaree closed out YWKC League play with a 3-2 record as WashCo rival Otis traveled south and handed the Bison a 38-34 loss, last Friday. The teams scored within one point of each other in each quarter except the second, when Otis held a five-point advantage. Raeya Schrock had 14 points, five rebounds and five steals, Janiya Smith 13 points, seven rebounds and five steals, Julisa Quinteros five points and six rebounds, Lilly Monat two points and seven rebounds, and Janice Kalcevic five rebounds.

OTIS GIRLS

Otis High School’s girls basketball team will try to build on the big step they took last Friday.

The Bulldogs hosted neighboring rival Lone Star this past Tuesday after pulling out a 38-34 win at the other neighboring rival to the south, Arickaree. They now are at Peetz today, February 8, at Prairie on Saturday and at Class 2A No. 1 Merino on Tuesday.

Otis entered this week 5-8 and No. 22 in the 1A CHSAA Selection & Seeding Index. They improved to 3-1 in YWKC League play with last Friday’s win at Arickaree.

The teams scored within one point of each other in the first, third and fourth quarters, but Otis held a five-point edge in the second. Lydia Willeke had 10 points and eight rebounds, Alli Hornung nine oints and four rebounds, Madelyn Willeke eight points and 13 rebounds, Raya Routh six points and seven rebounds, and Aedyn Tribelhorn five points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

The Bulldogs hosted Hi-Plains last Saturday, pulling out another close one, 41-36 in overtime. Otis led by six after the third quarter, only to see Hi-Plains rally in the fourth to force overtime. However, the Bulldogs dominated the extra session.

Tribelhorn had 14 points and seven rebounds, L. Willeke 10 points and two rebounds, Hornung nine points and four rebounds, Kayce Perry four points, four rebounds, and four steals, M. Willeke two points and 11 rebounds, Roth two points and two rebounds, and Layce Perry four rebounds.

LONE STAR GIRLS

The Lone Star girls basketball team was hovering around .500 entering this week with a 6-7 record.

The Longhorns were at neighboring Otis this past Tuesday and are at Deer Trail today, February 8, host Flagler on Saturday, and host Prairie on this upcoming Tuesday.