Second half struggles cost Indees in loss to Hornets
Independence’s Aberlardo Lopez Cruz drove to the basket during their game against Alma Center Lincoln on Thursday. (Times photograph by Andrew Dannehy
The Independence boys basketball team looked to have a good shot at getting its second win of the season, but they scored just 13 points in the second half.
The Indees led Alma Center Lincoln 24-21 on the road at halftime of last Thursday’s game. The Hornets exploded for 40 points in the second half, while the Indees struggled to get anything going offensively.
Independence finished the regular season with a 1-19 record and they went 0-14 in Dairyland Conference play. They opened Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association regional play at Blair-Taylor on Tuesday of this week.
ACL 61 Independence 37
A late three pointer gave the Indees the lead at halftime, but their offense fell flat in the second half.
Tyler Kingsbury knocked in a long three pointer at the end of the first half to put the Indees ahead 24-21 at the intermission. But the Indees managed just six field goals in the second half, while the Hornets put up 40 points.
Independence shot 37 percent from the field as Kingsbury led the team with 11 points in the game. Ben Pyka added nine, eight of which came in the first half. Pyka also finished with 13 rebounds.
Jace Paul scored 22 points to lead the Hornets.
Independence (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-points) — Ramirez 1/5-0/0-1-3 Kingsbury 5/15-0/0-3-11 B. Pyka 3/8-3/7-13-9 Sylla 1/1-0/0-1-2 Lopez Cruz 3/5-0/0-7-6 N. Pyka 2/4-0/4-5-4 Pfaff 1/1-0/2-0-2
