Warriors fight for final victory in season ender
Staff writer
An exciting final regular season game for Peabody-Burns High School boys' basketball team Feb. 19 ended with a one-point victory against Berean Academy.
The team finishes the regular schedule at 11-9 and played Tuesday at home against Wabaunsee in a first-round sub-state game.
While the game against Berean started out basket-for-basket for each team, Berean jumped out to an eight-point lead at the four-minute mark.
PBHS steadily climbed back into the contest and at the buzzer, Duane Unruh put the home team up by one, 20-19, with a short two-point jump shot.
Nathan Bishop led the quarter scoring with seven points. Adam Benson had five, while Unruh and Jacob Simmonds each added four.
Tough defense and good inside offense helped to give the PBHS squad a two-point edge at the half, 35-33.
Andrew Loucks paced the team with eight points, including four free throws.
Trevor Hamm got on the board with three and Unruh and Bishop each added a basket.
A tight third quarter made for a tie game at the end of the period.
PBHS defensive steals kept the offense alive. Bishop led the team with four points, Aaron Topham put in a three-point basket, and Loucks and Hamm each added a basket.
PBHS built a seven-point lead in the fourth, but Berean climbed back to within three with three minutes left in the game.
A big technical foul on the PBHS bench put Berean at the line, and the Warriors pulled to within one at 54-53.
The lead changed four times in the final three minutes of the game.
With an assist from Bishop, Simmonds hit a big basket to put the team up 61-60 with 21 seconds left to play in the contest.
After a timeout with six seconds left on the clock, a Berean shot missed the mark, and PBHS held onto the one-point victory.
Benson led the team with five points in the quarter. Unruh had four while Bishop, Hamm, and Simmonds each added a basket.
Thad Holmes led Berean with 20 points. Carlin Unruh had 11, and Blake Barber added 10.
scoring
Nathan Bishop, 15; Adam Benson, 10; Andrew Loucks, 10; Duane Unruh, 10; Trevor Hamm, seven; Jacob Simmonds, six; Aaron Topham, three.
