Indees get first win before DC loss
The Independence boys basketball team got big games from a few players as it picked up its first win of the season before falling in a Dairyland Conference game last week.
The Indees put up a season-high 87 points as they held on for a win over Coulee Christian/Providence Academy last week Monday. On Thursday, however, they weren’t able to get close to that total in a 62-43 loss to Alma Center Lincoln.
The loss put the Indees’ record at 1-4 on the season and 0-2 in Dairyland Conference play. That was before their game at home against Greenwood on Monday, the first of three nonconference games this week as they play at Houston, Minn. on Friday and host Necedah on Saturday.
Independence 87 CC/P 80
A career night from Ben Pyka along with big games from Tyler Kingsbury and Brandon Sylla helped the Indees pick up a win.
One game after Kingsbury set a new career-high with 31 points, Pyka had 31 of his own, though it came in a different manner. While Kingsbury knocked down nine three pointers on his way to 31 points, most of Pyka’s came at the basket as he scored 12 field goals. And much of his damage was done in the second half.
Nathan Pyka scored six points early before Sylla connected on three three pointers and Kingsbury knocked one in as the Indees took a 38-28 lead into halftime.
CC/P picked up the pace in the second half, but Ben Pyka was there to answer. The Independence senior scored 23 points in the second frame, getting to the basket for points or fouls as he made seven-of-17 free throws. The Indees scored 49 points in the second half to hold off CC/P.
In addition to 31 points, Pyka had 11 rebounds and five assists. Kingsbury scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to go with five assists. Sylla had a double-double as his four three pointers helped him to 18 points, he added 10 assists and grabbed five rebounds.
The Indees shot roughly 44 percent from the floor and controlled the glass, pulling down 50 rebounds. They also limited their turnovers, finishing with 14.
Independence (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-points) — Rajkowski 0/0-0/0-2-0-0 Kingsbury 7/23-3/6-13-19 Pyka 12/21-7/17-11-31 Sylla 5/17-4/4-5-18 Santillan 3/6-0/0-8-7 Montalvo 0/0-0/0-1-0 Mendoza Reyes 2/2-0/1-1-4 Pfaff 0/0-0/0-1-0 N. Pyka 3/4-2/6-8-8
ACL 62 Independence 43
The Indees couldn’t keep up with the Hornets after halftime.
Independence trailed by six, 28-22, at halftime, but AC Lincoln was able to feed the ball inside to Jace Paul as he finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds in the game. Stephen Were scored 19 for the Hornets.
Statistics for Independence were not reported to the Times.
