Staff writer
Edged in the Jan. 21 and Friday contests in the Centre Tournament, the Peabody-Burns Warriors boys’ basketball team came back to earn a Saturday victory.
In an exciting first-round match-up with Flint Hills Job Corps, PBHS was narrowly defeated 68-65. In round two, an even closer margin gave the Warriors a loss to Wakefield 51-49.
The team came back to get a third-round win over Elyria Christian 45-38. Up next is a week off for the varsity before a Tuesday home rematch with Elyria Christian.
Flint Hills Job Corps
In a very fast paced first quarter, PBHS trailed 20-13. Vince Newman had a 3-pointer in the quarter. Xavier Jabary and Braxton Kyle each had a basket and a free throw. Kevin Baatrup added 2 from the line and Garret Schroeder got on the board with a basket.
The Warrior defense attacked in the second and held the opposition to 15 points. PBHS offense earned 20. Kyle scored 6, followed by Baatrup with 5. Jabary tacked on 4, and Schroeder added 3. Newman rounded out the total with 2. Flint Hills Job Corps had a 2-point edge at halftime, 35-33.
The pace did not slow in the third and the quarter ended tied at 49. The Warrior offense added 16 and Flint Hills Job Corps added 14. Kyle led with 8. Schroeder scored 4. Jabary and Kaden Gibson each had 2.
The game remained tight for the remainder of the contest. Late in the competition a fifth foul on Kyle sent him to the bench. PBHS stayed within a basket until the very final seconds. The Warriors lost 68-65. Newman led the fourth with 5. Gibson added 4. Kyle scored 3. Jabary and Schroeder each had a basket.
Scoring
Kyle, 20; Jabary, 11; Schroeder, 11; Newman, 10; Baatrup, 7; Gibson, 6.
Wakefield
The Wakefield offense came out on fire and outscored PBHS 19-9 in the first quarter. Kyle led with 5. Baatrup and Jabary each added 2.
PBHS offense earned 8 while Wakefield scored 12 in the second. Kyle and Schroeder each had 4 in the period. PBHS trailed 30-17 at halftime.
The Warrior defense held Wakefield to 8 points in the third. The PBHS offense, led by Kyle with 13 points, added 18.
Jabary scored 3, and Newman tacked on 2. With the third quarter surge, the Warriors were down by 3 at the end of the period, 38-35.
Even fourth quarter point production from both squads meant PBHS was just edged out for the 51-49 loss.
Kyle added 5 in the final period. Gibson earned a trey. Baatrup, Jabary and Newman each ended the quarter with 2.
Scoring
Kyle, 27; Jabary, 7; Baatrup, 4; Newman, 4; Schroeder, 4; Gibson, 3.
Elyria Christian
Kyle had the only offense in the first quarter with a 2-point basket. Elyria scored 12.
The PBHS offense improved with 12 in the second. Jabary led with 5, all from the free-throw line. Gibson, Newman and Schroeder each added 2. Nick Preheim got on the board with a free throw. The Warrior defense held Elyria to 6, but the team trailed 18-14 at the half.
The Warrior offense found the net in the third, led by Newman with three 3-pointers. Kyle added 6 from the field. Schroeder had a basket and a free throw and Gibson added a 2-point basket. PBHS took the lead 34-24 and held Elyria to 6 in the quarter.
Elyria outscored PBHS 14-11 in the final period, but the Warriors held on for the 45-38 victory. Newman led with 5. Kyle earned 3 from the stripe. Gibson added a 2-point basket, and Schroeder had a free throw.
Scoring
Newman, 16; Kyle, 11; Schroeder, 6; Gibson, 6; Jabary, 5 Preheim, 1.