Indees stung by Hornets in opener

The Independence/Gilmanton boys basketball team just couldn’t get its offense on track in a 55-34 home loss to Alma Center Lincoln last week Tuesday.

I/G’s defense held up well in its season opener, limiting ACL to 23 points in the first half as the Indees trailed by six at halftime. 

The Indees stuck with the Hornets early in the second half as a three pointer by Angel Mendoza made the score 27-22 with about 15 minutes remaining. 

But that’s when ACL began to pull away. All-conference player Jace Paul responded with a three pointer to start a 9-0 run that put the Hornets ahead 36-22 with about 12 minutes left. 

The Indees answered and got within seven with nine minutes remaining, but they’d score just five points the rest of the way. I/G went seven minutes without scoring as ACL went on a 19-0 run to go ahead 55-29.

Paul finished with a game-high 25 points for the Hornets. I/G’s scoring was balanced as Payton Hovey led the way with eight points and Mendoza finished with seven. 

The loss put I/G at 0-1 to begin its season before the team’s home game against Cashton on Monday. I/G played at Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran on Tuesday and is set to host Melrose-Mindoro on Friday. The team will hit the road twice next week playing at Augusta this coming Monday and at Osseo-Fairchild next Thursday. 

I/G — field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Mendoza 2/8-1/4-3-1-7 Hovey 4/8-0/0-9-3-8 N. Lopez 0/5-0/1-4-2-0 E. Lopez 0/1-0/0-0-0-0 Parr 2/4-1/1-2-2-6 Schank 2/6-1/6-2-1-5 Turner 1/1-0/0-0-0-0 Flores 3/7-0/0-7-5-6