Indee boys split two games
The Independence boys basketball team came out firing twice last week, but it was only enough to earn a split in two games.
The Indees buried a handful of three pointers early as they took a 29-21 lead at halftime and held on to beat New Auburn, 53-49, on the road last week Tuesday. They made five three pointers in the first half of their game against Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran on Thursday, but still trailed and went cold in the second half, losing 59-38.
Independence entered this week with a 6-16 overall record (2-9 in Dairyland Conference play) before playing at Alma/Pepin on Friday. They’ll host Gilmanton in their final regular season game next Thursday.
Independence 53 NA 49
Three pointers helped the Indees take an early lead and they held on for the win.
The team’s first points came on a three pointer from Brandon Sylla, Xavier Santillian and Tyler Kingsbury added three pointers later in the half before Sylla hit again, putting the Indees ahead 29-21 at halftime.
The Trojans were within three early in the second half before Sylla connected on another three pointer. The game remained close, but Kingsbury’s defense helped lead to offense as he got three steals that he took back for layups in the half.
Kingsbury finished with a game-high 25 points, while adding eight steals, seven rebounds and five assists. Sylla made four three pointers and was second on the team with 14 points while Ben Pyka scored eight and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Independence (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Kingsbury 9/15-6/10-7-3-25 B. Pyka 3/8-2/4-10-4-8 Sylla 5/17-0/1-2-2-14 Santillian 1/8-0/0-5-1-3 Montalvo 0/2-1/21-1-1 Mendoza 0/1-0/0-0-1-0 N. Pyka 1/2-0/1-5-1-2
ECI 59 Independence 38
Three pointers helped keep the Indees in the game early, but they went cold in the second half.
The Lancers jumped out to a 20-10 lead, but Ben Pyka made a three pointer to cut the advantage to seven. ECI still seemed to be in control, leading 27-15, before Sylla made his third three pointer of the half. Sylla hit again a few minutes later to cut the ECI advantage to 29-25.
The Indees trailed 34-27 at halftime, then the shots stopped falling.
Independence was one-for-11 on three-point attempts in the second half and shut just four-for-18 from the field. The Lancers went back ahead by double digits early in the half and pulled away as the Indees managed just 11 points in the second frame.
Sylla made five-of-10 three pointers and led the Indees with 19 points.
Independence (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Rajkowski 0/1-0/0-0-0-0 Kingsbury 1/7-0/0-3-0-2 B. Pyka 3/10-3/6-7-2-10 Sylla 7/13-0/0-1-3-19 Santillian 0/2-1/2-5-1-1 Montalvo 1/5-0/0-4-0-2 Mendoza 0/1-0/0-0-1-0 N. Pyka 1/1-0/0-2-2-2 Flores 1/1-0/0-3-2-2
