Indees fall to Houston, ACL

The Independence/Gilmanton boys basketball team continues to struggle offensively in Dairyland Conference play last week.

The Indees scored 47 points in an eight-point loss to Houston, Minn. last week Monday. On Thursday, however, they were unable to top 20 points, losing to Alma Center Lincoln, 65-18. The Indees have averaged 45 points per game in nonconference games, including a 76-62 loss to Whitehall that didn’t count in the conference standings. In DC games, however, the team has failed to top 30 points, averaging about 23 points per game in four losses.

I/G began this week with an 0-9 overall record before Tuesday’s game at Coulee Christian. They return to DC play at home against Blair-Taylor on Friday. 

Next week, the Indees will host Cornell on Thursday and play in Cashton on Friday. 

Houston 55 I/G 47

The Indees surged late, but a 20-1 run was too much to overcome.

I/G was ahead by two at 23-21 before Houston finished the first half with a 9-0 run. The team from Minnesota began the second half with an 11-1 run to take a 41-24 lead.

The Indees kept battling. A three pointer by Brandon Sylla cut the lead to nine with about 90 seconds remaining then Chase Jesse scored in transition to cut the advantage to 52-45 with one minute left in the game.

I/G had a shot to cut into the lead after a missed jump shot, but a turnover gave the ball back to the Hurricanes. Houston was able to make free throws to clinch the win.

The Indees shot 36 percent from the field as Sylla led the way with 17 points. 

I/G (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Santillan 1/4-0/0-2-5-2 Mendoza 1/8-0/0-2-2-2 Sylla 6/13-4/5-3-2-17 Pfaff 2/5-0/1-7-0-4 Montalvo 0/2-0/0-2-2-0 Jesse 3/8-2/4-6-1-8 Meier 3/7-0/0-0-2-8 Pyka 1/1-2/4-2-4-4 Flores 1/2-1/5-7-2-3

AC Lincoln 65 I/G 18

The Hornets scored the first 10 points and never looked back.

After I/G ended the 10-0 run with a basket, ACL scored 22 straight to take a 32-2 lead. A three pointer by Xavier Santillan stopped that run, but the Hornets remained in control. ACL took a 46-7 lead into halftime before letting up in the second half.

I/G shot 18.4 percent from the field, compared to 53.8 percent for ACL. Brandon Sylla scored 14 of I/G’s points, Santillan had the other four.

I/G (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Santillan 1/9-1/2-2-3-4 Sylla 6/13-0/0-2-2-14 Pfaff 0/1-0/0-0-0-0 Montalvo 0/1-0/0-3-0-0 Jesse 0/4-0/1-4-4-0 Schank 0/1-0/0-1-0-0 Meier 0/5-0/2-3-1-0 Pyka 0/1-0/0-3-0-0 Flores 0/3-0/2-1-2-0