Sports writer
The Warriors faced two league teams this past week at home. They lost to the undefeated Hutch Trinity Celtics, 53-39, but came back to get a homecoming victory against Ell-Saline, 63-43. The team will end the regular season at Berean Academy and prepare for sub-state competition.
In the contest against undefeated Hutch Trinity squad, Aaron Topham opened the Warrior scoring with a two-point basket. In a fast, first quarter, both squads took advantage of good scoring opportunities created by good defensive pressure. Jacob Simmonds and Sean Jones each had a basket to build a four-point lead, 6-2, with 3:40 on the clock. Simmonds had another two and Martin Hofkamp kept the game close with a two but PBHS earned the two-point edge at the buzzer, 13-11, with a big three-pointer from Brian Wingert.
Defense was the word in the second. PBHS offense slowed to almost a halt with only a two-point basket from Hofkamp and a free throw from Jones. Things weren’t much better for the Celtic offense with the addition of only seven points. Hutch Trinity did claim the two-point advantage at the half, 18-16.
Hutch Trinity managed to take a five-point lead in the third, but PBHS came back to tie the score at 28 at the close of the period. Topham led the quarter scoring with six. Simmonds had four and Jones had two.
Hutch Trinity opened the fourth with a seven-point run.
PBHS closed to within five several times in the period, but down the stretch, free throw shooting from the Celtics made it impossible for the Warriors to come any closer. PBHS scored 11 in the fourth.
Topham had three and Cade Middleton, Jones, Derek Price, and Brian O’Neal each had two.
pbhs scoring
Aaron Topham, 11; Jacob Simmonds, 8; Sean Jones, 7; Martin Hofkamp, 4; Brian Wingert, 3; Derek Price, 2; Cade Middleton, 2; Brian O’Neal, 2.
PBHS dominated the first two period of the homecoming contest against the Cardinals. The Warriors led, 15-9, at the end of the first quarter, but exploded in the second and led 33-15 at the half. Simmonds put nine on the scoreboard to lead the team in scoring. Topham added eight and O’Neal and Hofkamp each had six. Jones came up with four.
Scoring was even in the third with a slight edge going to the PBHS squad. Ell-Saline put up 14 but the Warriors added 16 and led, 49-29, at the end of three quarters of play. Simmonds added eight to the total. O’Neal, Jones, Topham, and Jake Middleton each had a basket.
Simmonds led the final period with five points. Topham had four. Caleb Hilliard added three and Price and Joe Zappone each had a free throw. The Warriors claimed the win, 63-43.
Simmonds led the team with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists. J. Middleton had 10 rebounds. O’Neal and Hofkamp each had eight rebounds.
pbhs scoring
Jacob Simmonds, 22; Aaron Topham, 14; Brian O’Neal, 8; Sean Jones, 6; Martin Hofkamp, 6; Caleb Hilliard, 3; Jacob Middleton, 2; Joe Zappone, 1; Derek Price, 1.