Sports writer
The Peabody-Burns High School Warriors earned a fifth-place plaque this past week at the Marion Classic.
In a close, round-one contest, PBHS lost to the host team Marion, 46-43.
The team won the second round game against Eureka, 52-30, and also came out on top in the final round against Leon Bluestem, 43-40.
The team will play Burrton next at home and also will have a home contest Dec. 22 against Wichita Home School.
Marion
Both Warrior team offenses struggled early the first quarter of the Marion-PBHS match-up.
PBHS scored eight points, four from Martin Hofkamp and four from Jacob Simmonds, while Marion put up 12. The gap was four at the end of the first quarter.
PBHS played tough in the second quarter, but only produced nine points.
Aaron Topham had five points with Simmonds connecting for four. The Marion offense had 13 in the quarter. PBHS trailed at the half, 25-17.
More PBHS Warriors got on the board in the third.
Topham and Caleb Hilliard each hit a three-pointer. Jake Middleton, Simmonds, and Brian O’Neal each had two, while Hofkamp added a free throw.
The PBHS defense held Marion to 10 points. The margin was five, 35-30, at the end of three.
The PBHS defense held Marion to 11 in the final period of the contest.
PBHS pulled to within six late in the game. With just seconds left on the clock, a three-point shot from Brian Wingert closed the gap to three.
PBHS had only two seconds to set up for a last second shot.
After a time out, Topham missed a long shot from behind the half-court line and the Warriors lost by three.
Eureka
First-quarter action in the second-round game against Eureka belonged to PBHS.
Simmonds and Middleton each scored six points. Topham, Hilliard, and Hofkamp each had a basket, and O’Neal nailed a free throw.
Eureka managed only one basket. The score favored the Warriors 19-2 at the end of the first period.
No press and more ball control helped to narrow the gap in the second quarter.
Simmonds had the only four points but the Warriors still were in control at the half, 23-12.
The PBHS offense was on fire in the third with the addition of 17 points.
Simmonds paced the team with 11. Topham had three, Hofkamp two, and Joe Zappone put in a free throw.
PBHS led 40-18 at the end of the third quarter.
Both offenses scored 12 points in the final period. PBHS coasted to a second-round victory, 52-30.
Wingert and Hilliard each had four points in the fourth quarter.
O’Neal and Hofkamp each added two.
Leon-Bluestem
The PBHS offense won the first-quarter battle, leading Bluestem 12-7 after one period of play.
Hofkamp was the leader on offense with six points. Simmonds, Middleton, and Topham each added a basket.
The Warriors remained on top in the second. Leon scored 10, but PBHS chipped in 14. Wingert led the quarter scoring with six. O’Neal had four, Simmonds added two, and Hofkamp and Topham each put in a free throw.
The Warriors led 26-17 at the half.
Still in control, PBHS topped the scoreboard after three quarters of play, 40-28. Topham led with eight points, Hofkamp, had four and Simmonds added a basket.
The Bluestem offense battled back in the fourth and pulled to within three points of the Warriors with less than two minutes left in the game.
In the final seconds of the game, Simmonds made one free throw to give the Warriors a four-point lead, 43-39.
A late PBHS foul behind the three-point line gave Bluestem one more opportunity at the free-throw line, but only one shot fell.
PBHS held off Bluestem, 43-40, for the final-round victory, and the Warriors claimed fifth place in the tournament.