Axtell, KS

Friday night was another non-league match-up for area teams with Riverside traveling to Axtell for a doubleheader on the hardwood. The two teams would split the evening with Axtell taking the girls contest 62-41 and the guys from Riverside claiming a 67-62 win.

GIRLS – Following a tough outing at the Twin Valley League tournament, Axtell was poised to bounce back versus Riverside. The Eagles, led by Senior Kori Schmelzle, would jump out of the gate early to lead 6-1. Following a slew of turnovers by both teams Axtell would close out the first quarter leading 12-6. In the second quarter, it would be more defense for the Lady Eagles resulting in points, forcing seventeen first half turnovers taking the lead at the half by a score of 30-16. The second half continued to be dominated by Riverside mishaps and Axtell taking advantage as the Lady Eagles cruised to victory 62-41.

Axtell (3-10) was led in scoring by Schmelzle who posted 23 points on the night and was a force in the paint. Kinsey Feldkamp was able to handle pressure from the Lady Cyclones, facilitating the offense while attributing 14 points on the evening and 7 assists. Forcing a total of 34 turnovers, Axtell pursued Riverside on every dribble and pass the entire night, frustrating Riverside at every juncture en route to the victory.

Riverside (2-10) had a phenomenal scoring output by Junior Jaismon Murphy who accounted for sixteen of the Lady Cyclone 41. Murphy, along with Endiah Byrd pressured Axtell constantly throughout the night, but gave the basketball up too often while forcing just 20 turnovers on the Lady Eagles.

Scoring

Axtell – K. Schmelzle 23, K. Feldkamp 14, L. McClallan 11, Asp. Buessing 7, B. Porting 5, H. Schmitz 2

Riverside – J. Murphy 16, End. Byrd 8, Eun. Byrd 7, L. Jones 4, Z. Hayes 3, L. O'Grady 2, T. Ewing 1

BOYS – A good match-up was expected in the boys game and it did not disappoint. Fireworks started early and often for Riverside with tenacious defense and sharp shooting. Following an early Axtell layup by Junior Derek Buessing, Riverside's Junior guard Braden Chalfant scored the next five points of the game to get the Cyclones out of the gate. A free throw by Senior Yegor Dittemore would put the Cyclones up 6-2 before it became the Bray Davies show. Davies scored the final 10 points in the first frame for Riverside as they would lead 16-8 after the first quarter. More defense, transition buckets and timely shots allowed the Cyclones to balloon the lead up to twenty at halftime leading 35-15 at the break. Davies had 17 in the first half and Riverside forced 15 Axtell turnovers in what seemed to be a runaway game at halftime. Axtell would take the entire halftime break to discuss second half adjustments, and adjust they would in the third quarter.

Trailing by 20, Axtell scored the first four points in the third stanza and force 2nd year coach Tyler Herbster to call a timeout. From then on Axtell would continue their push, led by Senior's Quinn Buessing and Derek Buessing the Eagles would get the game within 5 points. After another break in the action, Riverside would close the third frame on a 6-0 run to lead 48-37 heading to the fourth. Axtell would attempt to put the game in jeopardy a few times in the fourth, getting the game within seven points on numerous occasions but Dittemore and the Cyclones turned it on late to stave off the comeback, with Axtell hitting a three at the buzzer, for the 67-62 win.

Axtell (7-7) just couldn't get things going offensively in the first half and dug themselves too big of a hole to climb out of. Not for lack of effort, however, with both Derek Buessing and Quinn scoring a bulk of their points in the second half. The Eagles hit 4 three point baskets in the third to keep them in the game, but too many mistakes, and an aggressive Cyclone team was too much to overcome. The eagles had 26 turnovers and two key assets foul out down the stretch in Senior Clark Werner and Junior George Volle.

Riverside (5-8) had one of their highest offensive outputs of the season, but might've played their best defensive game in the first half of this one. The Cyclones used an aggressive defense paired with their speed and athleticism to get easy buckets in transition. It also didn't hurt that Junior guard Bray Davies seemed to be playing as if nobody was around him throughout most of the first half. Riverside was able to build a massive lead in the first half and hold off any attempt by Axtell to get back into this game. The Cyclones, however, nearly doubled their turnovers in the second half(13) from the first(7) and didn't shoot well from the free throw line (12-26) and still managed to get the victory. Riverside will look to shoot from the foul line more effectively and take care of the basketball as the second half of the season gets into full swing.

Scoring

Axtell – Q. Buessing 26, D. Buessing 15, K. Talbot 5, I. Detweiler 5, M. Buessing 4 C. Werner 4, J. Hart 3

Riverside – B. Davies 19, Y. Dittemore 14, B. Chalfant 12, I. Webb 9, N. Byrd 9, X. Stillman 3, M. Edwards 1

Farmers State Bank in Onaga players to bank on were Kori Schmelzle in the girls contest and Bray Davies in the guys contest.

Riverside will next be in action next Tuesday February 4th at Sabetha, you can catch those games as part of the MSC Sports Radio Network on the Sabetha Channel

Axtell will also next hit the road and take on another Doniphan county foe at Doniphan West next Tuesday February 4th.