The Pender Boys Basketball Team lost 53-32 at Ponca in the C2-7 Sub-District Final on Thursday, February 22nd to end the season.
Jeff’s Game Recap:
Both teams scored 9 points in the 1st quarter before the Indians outscored the Pendragons 21-6 in the 2nd quarter to take a 30-15 lead into the locker room. Both teams scored 5 points in the 3rd quarter, and Pender led 35-20 at the end of three. Ponca won the 4th quarter 18-12. Trevor Trimble had 8 points and 7 rebounds while Aiden Beckman notched 7 points and 7 rebounds.
End of Season Synopsis:
What a great season it was for Pender. The Pendragons end their year at 20-6, tying the school record for most wins in a season. Head Coach Andy Welsh says the program has turned the corner and gotten on the map.
The Pendragons started the season 2-2 and then won back-to-back games over Oakland-Craig and Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family. Coach Welsh says it was at that point that the team knew they could have something pretty special. Welsh says Senior Aiden Beckman was very athletic, and showed the younger kids how to use their athleticism. Senior Gannon Walsh started the year as a Starter and then came off the bench, but accepted his role and played it well. He tied the school record with 9 3’s against Wisner-Pilger. Coach Welsh adds he had a lot of community support, and that helped out a lot. He says this year’s team laid a foundation for future success.
Alex Roth led the team in scoring with 292 points for the season and rebounds with 176.
Key returners include Owen Kneifl, Trimble, Roth, and Zander Welsh. Plenty of talent back for Pender next year, and I look for the Pendragons to build off of what they did this season and keep it going next year.
Coach Welsh says the returning kids are anxious and excited and chomping at the bit about playing Basketball and getting after it this offseason as he sees cars at the rec center each night playing Basketball.
