Sports writer
Two road games for the PBHS Warriors last week produced one win and one loss. The PBHS Warriors defeated Goessel, 53-35, Jan. 12 but lost to Moundridge on Friday, 70-55. The team is 8-2 for the season and will be in action in Burrton. They will open against Central Christian in the first round of the Burrton Tournament.
PBHS opened an 11-point lead in the first quarter before the Bluebirds got on the scoreboard. With less than a minute to play, Goessel offense put up six points, including a 3-point basket at the buzzer. PBHS led 13-6 at the end of the first period.
Jacob Simmonds paced the team with seven points in the period. Brian O’Neal, Aaron Topham, and Sean Jones each had a basket.
Simmonds scored two early in the second but Goessel added three to put the margin at six, 15-9. Simmonds added a free throw and Martin Hofkamp added a basket. The PBHS squad led, 18-11, with 4 minutes, 7 seconds left in the first half. Goessel cut the PBHS lead to four with a trey, but free throws from Simmonds and Topham put the lead at eight with one minute left in the period.
Goessel added another 3-point basket before the half and Topham put in a two. PBHS led, 24-17, at halftime.
The Bluebirds added the first points after the half with two free throws. PBHS then put up nine points to extend the lead by 14, 33-19. Goessel ended the quarter with a basket but the PBHS lead was 12, 38-26. Topham led the quarter scoring with four. O’Neal and Simmonds scored three each; Hofkamp and Storm Pickens each had two.
The Warriors remained on top in the fourth with the addition of 13 points. PBHS defense held the Bluebirds to seven points and the victory went to the Warriors, 53-35. Topham had seven points in the final period. O’Neal had four. Hofkamp added a basket. Pickens and Derek Price each added a free throw.
Topham led the offense with 17 points. Simmonds added 15 and O’Neal had nine. Hofkamp had six in the game and Pickens had three. Jones scored a 2-point basket and Price had a free throw.
Moundridge game
PBHS offense opened on fire against the Wildcats, scoring 22 in the first period. Defensively, the Warrior squad held Moundridge to 14 points. PHS led 22-14 at the end of the first quarter. Simmonds blazed the trail for the Warriors with 13 points. O’Neal added five and Topham chipped in four.
Wildcat offense picked up in the second quarter and challenged the Warrior lead. PBHS managed 13 points but Moundridge scored 18 and closed the PBHS gap to three at the half, 35-32. Simmonds and Topham shared the top scoring spot in the period at four each. O’Neal had a trey and Hofkamp scored two.
The Warrior lead vanished in the third quarter as the PBHS team managed only eight points. Jones, Simmonds, O’Neal, and Topham each had two points. Moundridge offense poured in 17. The Warriors trailed at the end of the fourth quarter by six, 49-43.
Offensive struggles continued in the fourth quarter for the Warriors. While Moundridge dumped in 21 points, the Warriors only scored 12. Simmonds had five in the fourth and O’Neal had three free throws. Pickens and Topham had a basket each. PBHS lost, 70-55.
Simmonds led the scoring in the contest with 24 points. O’Neal had 13 and Topham added 12. Pickens, Jones, and Hofkamp each had two.