Hornets start season out right beat Lingle, Saratoga

The Pine Bluffs Boys Basketball team won at home and in Saratoga Dec. 20 and 21.

Dec. 20, the Hornets faced off with Lingle, and played well averaging about 22 points per quarter, while Lingle only averaged about 9 points per quarter.

"The kids were a little jittery to start the game. The gym had a lot of energy as it was our first home game," said Coach William Gray. "Once we settled down, the boys took off and executed very well."

The Hornets put a lot of pressure on the ball in the first quarter, scoring 19 points and leaving Lingle with only 3 points.

"I thought we pressured the ball effectively and disrupted their rhythm offensively," he said. "The kids carried the week's worth of preparation over to the game very well."

The Hornets played a much closer game on Dec. 21 against Saratoga with a final score of 74-68.

"We won a close-fought conference road game," Gray said." The game was very back and forth, as each team led by 8 or more in the second half, but we were able to stop their run at the end."

Stats show the Hornets were neck and neck with Saratoga in the first quarter of gameplay 19-18. The Hornets came back in the second half scoring 46 points between quarters 3 and 4.

Gray said the boys could have done some things better in the game.

"We have to defend the perimeter better. We also had way too many turnovers," Gray said. "Christmas break will be devoted to working on fundamentals to correct the unforced errors."

The Hornets next play Kimball Jan. 10 in Pine Bluffs.

"We have two very good opponents right out of the break. We need to build on what we've started so far this season," Gray said.

Stats

Pine Bluffs vs. Lingle

Pine Bluffs: 72

Lingle: 36

Werner: 17 points; 3 steals; 4 deffensive rebounds; 5 three-pointers; 6 field goals

Gross: 14 points; 7 defensive rebounds; 7 field goals

Thompson: 12 points; 14 defensive rebounds; 4 field goals

Pine Bluffs vs. Saratoga

Pine Bluffs: 74

Saratoga: 68

Werner: 21 points; 2 steals; 5 three-pointers; 5 field goals; 8 defensive rebounds

Thompson: 20 points; 9 field goals; 18 defensive rebounds

Gross: 15 points; 5 field goals; 12 defensive rebounds;