Sterling Jets advance in play at Pioneer Tourney
Jan.29, 2008
By Beatrice Daily Sun
January 29, 2008
Beatrice Daily Sun
Sterling advances in play at Pioneer tourney
Wednesday, Jan
30, 2008 - 09:34:44 am CST Daily Sun sports
LEWISTON - Sterling’s Jets made a move in the second quarter en
route to a win over the Johnson-Brock Eagles in the quarterfinals
of the Pioneer Conference boys basketball tournament Tuesday at
Lewiston. With their win, the Jets will take on Nebraska City
Lourdes Thursday at 5 p.m. in conference semi-final action at
Pawnee City.
After leading by just two points, 12-10, at the end of the first
quarter, Sterling’s Jets pulled away from Johnson-Brock in the
second quarter by outscoring the Eagles 14-7. The Jets added
to their nine-point halftime lead in the third quarter by
outscoring Johnson-Brock, 16-13.
In the final period, Sterling held off an Eagle rally, although
Johnson-Brock outscored the Jets, 18-13.
During the second half, Sterling coach Jimmy Motz said the Eagles
jut the Jets’ lead to four points twice. “But each time, we
were able to answer their run with a run of our own,” Motz
said.
Sophomore Zach Lempka led Sterling in scoring with 23 points,
including eight field goals and a 7-for-8 performance from the
free-throw line. “Zach played well,” Motz said. “He had 11
rebounds to go with his 23 points.”
Also finishing in double-scoring figures for the Jets were Brandon
Nieveen and D.J. Thiel with 10 points each. Motz said
Nieveen, in particular, hit some key shots for the Jets in the
game.
Defensively, Motz said the Jets did a good job of shutting down
Johnson-Brock’s “high-low” game. “Our defense did a good
job,” Motz said.
Johnson-Brock was led in scoring by Josh Adams with 15 points, Hans
Christensen with 12 and Tyler Bohling with 10.
