Longhorn boys and girls advance to Bluejay Invitational title games

Courtesy of Benjamin Hutchinson
Cimarron, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–The Holcomb Longhorns would sweep South Gray Rebels in the second round of the Bluejay Invitational Friday afternoon in Cimarron. The Lady Longhorns won 55-48, while the Holcomb boys won 46-37.

Holcomb Girls 55, South Gray 48
Holcomb would start strong behind five quick points from Jera Kruleski. But it was back and forth the rest of the quarter. Holcomb would be down 13-11 after the first quarter. South Gray came out strong in the second quarter and had a nine point lead 25-16 with 2:30 left before halftime. Holcomb would go on a run down the stretch 9-2 to get back within two points at halftime 27-25. The Lady Longhorns came out strong in the third quarter starting on a 9-0 run to be up 34-27, but South Gray responded with an 8-0 run to take the lead 35-34 with 2:45 left in the third quarter. Holcomb would take a 39-37 lead into the fourth quarter. It was back and forth and tied 45 with two minutes left in the game. Bella Galliart went 4-7 at the foul line and had six points in the final frame to help the Longhorns close this game out. Holcomb finished strong and won 55-48 over South Gray.

South Gray shot 4-16 from three, and 12-42 from inside, and 11-13 at the free throw line. The Rebels had 25 rebounds, 14 of those were offensive boards. They had 20 turnovers. South Gray was led by Allie Reed with 11 points and six rebounds, and Vi Helm with 10 points.

Holcomb shot 5-21 from three, and 13-29 from inside, and 12-19 from the free throw line. The Longhorns had 35 rebounds, 17 of those were offensive rebounds. They had 22 turnovers. Holcomb was led by Bella Galliart with eight points and five rebounds, Halle Jones with 10 points and nine rebounds, and Jera Kruleski with 27 points and five rebounds.

Holcomb is now 2-1 and will play in the championship game of the Bluejay invitational Saturday night at 6 pm against Cimarron.

Holcomb Boys 46, South Gray 37
Holcomb started slow, but matched Joey Dyck who had eight points in the first quarter. It would be tied at eight at the end of the first quarter, and stayed tight in the second quarter and be tied at 18 at halftime. The Longhorns started to get some offense going in the third quarter and would be up 32-24 with less than a minute to go in the third quarter. Holcomb would take a 32-27 lead into the final frame. The Longhorns stretched their lead to 11 points 42-31 with 2:45 to go in the game. Holcomb would close this one out and win 46-37 over the Rebels.

South Gray shot 7-23 from three, and 8-37 from inside, and went 0-2 from the free throw line. The Rebels had 22 rebounds, nine of those were offensive boards. They had six turnovers. South Gray was led by Joey Dyck with 28 points and nine rebounds, and Jorge Lupercio with five points and six rebounds.

Holcomb shot 4-15 from three, and 13-29 from inside, and 10-14 at the foul line. The Longhorns had 42 rebounds, six of those were offensive boards. They had 21 turnovers. Holcomb was led by Kaden Hardy with nine points, Drayton Knoll with 10 points and eight rebounds, and Chris Palacios with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Holcomb is now 2-1 and will play in the championship game in the Bluejay Invitational Saturday night against Sublette.