Second half lifts Jays past H-M-S

A highly-competitive boys' basketball game between Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn and Gehlen Catholic turned into a much different contest during the second half. The Jays led by two points at half time, but revved up their offense in the second half to earn a convincing 76-45 win on Dec. 1 in Hartley.

The Hawks overcame an early deficit to tie the score at 15-15 at the end of the first quarter. They led early in the second period before Gehlen Catholic pulled out to a 29-22 advantage. H-M-S used a late rally to cut the deficit to 32-30 at half time.

H-M-S tied the score to start the third quarter but Gehlen Catholic regained the lead. It was still a one-possession game at the midpoint of the quarter before the Jays pulled away. They led 54-36 to start the final period and extended it to the 31-point final margin.

Gehlen Catholic's 1-2 scoring punch of Keaten Bonderson and Carter DeRocher outscored the entire H-M-S team by four points. Bonderson finished with 27 points and DeRocher added 22.

Lance Berends led the Hawks with 13 points. Sam Heyn scored nine points, Kooper Ebel scored eight, DJ Doyle scored six and Ben Haack scored four. The Hawks made 18-of-51 shots from the floor and 7-of-13 at the foul line.

Berends paced H-M-S on the glass with eight rebounds. Haack grabbed seven rebounds, Doyle had five and Kayl Jacobsma and Jordan Ortega each had four. Berends also had two blocks and two assists; Ebel had three steals and two assists; Heyn had two steals and two assists; and Mason Brinkman had two assists.

H-M-S plays at West Sioux on Dec. 11, hosts GT/RA on Dec. 14 and plays at West Bend-Mallard on Dec. 15.