Indees get first win, fall to Mel-Min, Whitehall

The Independence/Gilmanton boys basketball team got in the win column with a convincing victory last Monday before dropping a pair of Dairyland Conference games. 

The Indees took control of the game against Cornell early and went on to a 73-39 win, ending a 14-game losing streak to start the season. I/G was competitive early in its next two games, but came up short against two of the Dairyland Conference’s top teams, losing 71-52 to Cochrane-Fountain City last Tuesday and 76-50 to Whitehall on Friday.

I/G began this week at 1-16 overall and 0-13 in Dairyland Conference play before Monday’s game against Alma Center Lincoln. I/G heads to Eleva-Strum on Thursday and next Tuesday will play at Alma/Pepin. 

I/G 73 Cornell 39

The Indees started fast and left no doubt that the team would break through for its first win.

Luis Ignacio got the scoring started with a three-pointer as the team began the game with a 14-2 run. Glen Turner added a three-pointer during the run and Ignacio scored two other baskets to give himself seven points in the first six minutes of the game.

Cornell cut the lead to single digits, but Nery Lopez drilled a three to put I/G back ahead by 11. Ignacio later made two three-pointers, while Lopez scored twice and Nolan Schank got an inside basket as part of a 12-2 run that put I/G ahead 39-17.

The Indees took a 43-24 advantage into halftime and maintained a significant advantage throughout the second half.

I/G shot 47 percent from the field in the game and made seven three-pointers. Ignacio exploded for a career-high 26 points while adding 11 rebounds. Schank finished with 15 and Tyler Parr added 13. 

I/G (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — N. Lopez 3/9-0/0-6-1-7 Gibbs 1/8-0/0-3-0-2 Ignacio 11/22-0/0-11-2-26 Parr 5/10-2/2-4-2-13 Pronschinske 1/4-0/0-3-0-2 Turner 3/5-1/2-5-0-8 Schank 7/8-1/2-8-1-15

C-FC 71 I/G 52

The Indees hung with the Pirates until C-FC went on a run early in the second half.

The game was close early, but C-FC went on a 9-1 run to go ahead by 10. Lopez hit a three to cut the C-FC lead to seven before Parker Kujak knocked down two three-pointers to put his team ahead by 16. 

I/G scored twice in the closing minutes to pull within 11 at halftime then Luis Ignacio drilled a three-pointer to bring his team within eight early in the second half. 

That’s when C-FC took control of the game for good. The team scored 11 straight points, including two three-pointers by Kaleb Tollefson and another by Tucker Bambenek to take a 49-30 lead. 

Ignacio’s career-high of 26 points, set on Monday, lasted just 24 hours as he scored 28 against C-FC, making 11-of-18 shots from the field, including six-of-11 three-point attempts. Lopez added 12 points for the Indees. Bambenek’s 21 led C-FC. 

I/G (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Lopez 5/12-1/2-2-2-12 Gibbs 2/4-0/0-0-0-6 Ignacio 11/18-0/0-4-1-28 Parr 1/3-0/0-5-1-2 Turner 0/2-0/0-1-0-0 Schank 2/6-0/0-2-4-4