The Bryant Blue Hornets seventh and eighth grade basketball teams from Bethel Middle School opened the 2015-16 season on Thursday, Nov. 12, with wins over their respective counterparts from the Anthony School.
In the seventh-grade game, the Hornets outgunned the Panthers, 41-37, then the eighth grade Hornets prevailed 43-11.
“We had even scoring through three flights of players,” said Bethel coach Steve Wilson of the eighth grade game. “We had a slow start offensively with a lot of missed shots.”
The Hornets led 7-2 after a quarter and held a 13-7 edge at the half. By the end of the third quarter, they were in control, 30-11.
Baker Bright and Ethan Hilkret led the scoring with 6 each. Cade Drennan and Will Hope scored 5 apiece. River Holland and Jonathan Hall scored 4 each. Ethan Loomis and Brandon Weems each scored 3 with Christian Cain, Ben Devine and Codi Kirby finishing with 2 apiece. Jalen Dinstbier hit a free throw.
In the seventh grade game, Bethel pushed out to a 7-point lead early before the Panthers tightened it up with a rally and the game was tight the rest of the way.
“Our morning shooting workouts paid off,” Wilson said. “We hit five 3-pointers.”
Brayden Godwin and Hayden Schrader each scored 8 points to pace the effort. Garet Wilson finished with 6 and Hayden Purdy 4. Landon Nelson, Austin Schroeder and Cameron McDonald scored 3 apiece with Cameron Palmer, Ethan Mathews and Braden Robinson scored 2 each.
Both teams are set to play in a tournament hosted by the Anthony School starting Monday, Nov. 16.
