Tag: Bonner Springs High School

by Brian Turrel

The Bonner Springs Braves came back from an 11-point deficit to tie the visiting Tonganoxie Chieftains with less than a minute remaining, but the Braves couldn’t come up with final basket they needed, losing 61-58.

The Chieftains took a 19-11 lead in the first quarter thanks to hot shooting from Tonganoxie’s Zane Novotney, who hit three 3-point shots in the quarter.

Jayce Smith helped pull the Braves back in the second quarter, getting 4 points from the field and 4 more at the line. Jayon Noel hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the half to pull the Braves within 1, 29-28.

The Chieftains started hot in the second half, scoring the first 9 points. Braves’ head coach Dan Streit called a timeout to settle his team, which responded with a run of fast breaks to get back within 40-36, but by the end of the quarter, Tonganoxie had pulled back out to a 51-42 lead.

The Braves’ defensive pressure held Novotney scoreless in the fourth quarter, and they fouled strategically to slow the clock. On the offensive end, Smith and Jayden Young got key baskets to narrow the gap. With 40 seconds on the clock, Smith hit a 3-point shot that tied the game at 55 and sent the home crowd wild.

A defensive stop on the next possession gave the Braves a chance to take the lead, but a ball-handling turnover handed the ball back to the Chieftains, who hit all 8 of their free throw chances in the quarter to seal the win.

Smith led the scoring for the Braves with 22 points, including two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. Kalen Streit added 13, keeping the Braves in the game early with 7 first-quarter points.

Bonner Springs drops to 8-6 for the season. Their next game will be against the 9-2 Eudora Cardinals on Monday in Bonner Springs, starting at 7 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Brian Turrel

The Bonner Springs Braves lost a close game late 73-70 to the Shawnee Heights Thunderbirds Tuesday evening in Bonner Springs. The Braves turned around an early deficit and led for most of the contest before falling to a late run by the visitors.

The Braves got back on course after an early 9-4 deficit. Head coach Dan Streit called a timeout just three minutes into the game to steady the team, which responded with a comeback run capped by a three-point basket from Kalen Streit that put the home team on top 17-16.

The teams traded leads through the remainder of the half. Bonner Springs had trouble stopping Shawnee Heights senior Nate Pewe. In the first quarter, Pewe was fouled on three made baskets and converted all three free throws.

Bonner Springs countered with inside scoring from Jayce Smith and Jayden Young to keep the game close. A drive from Trent Stimac edged the Braves in front 44-43 at the half.

The Braves held the lead for most of the second half, getting out briefly to a 6-point margin midway through the third quarter. Smith wore a path to the basket along the right baseline, picking up 6 points in the quarter. Cameron Doss hit his third three-pointer of the game to help give Bonner Springs a 60-57 lead going into the final quarter.

The Braves’ troubles at the foul line and an untimely turnover in the fourth quarter gave the Thunderbirds the opportunity to take back the lead with less than a minute left in the game.

Down by 3 with ten seconds remaining, Bonner Springs ran a well-executed play to get a game-tying shot, but it bounced off the far rim, ending the game.

Smith led the Braves in scoring with 15 points. Doss and Tavian Cruse each contributed 13, and Young scored 12. Pewe ended the game with 32 points for the Thunderbirds.

The loss drops Bonner Springs to 3-3 for the season. They will face off at home against the Paola Panthers, starting at 7:30 p.m.