The Kimball boys hosted a mini-tournament last weekend and many talents were represented from teams such as Mora, PACT Charter, Brandon-Evansville, and Kimball. On Friday, Dec. 16, the Cubs took on a good PACT Charter team and defeated them, 76-52. On Saturday, Dec. 17, the Cubs played a very formidable Brandon-Evansville squad and held on for a fairly low-scoring 49-39 victory. (PACT Game) Cubs?Äô Scoring: Darius Westrich 4; Hunter Ahlrich 5; Del Guerrero 22; Hayden Gagnon 15; Drew Gustafson 11; Levi Sodergren 2; Weston Hine 8; Michael Hoffman 9.
The PACT Charter game was close for most of the first half until Kimball stretched the lead just before halftime. The second half featured Cubs?Äô players Weston Hine, Michael Hoffmann, and Levi Sodergren; with 19 points and 13 rebounds from the trio. In the championship game, Kimball jumped out to a quick 14-2 lead. In the second half, the Cubs struggled at times, and Brandon-Evansville came back to take a six-point lead with just over six minutes to play. Kimball tightened up on both sides of the ball, with Drew Gustafson and Darius Westrich leading the comeback. Drew scored three consecutive points to make it a three-point deficit, and Darius hit a three-pointer while getting fouled. He made the free-throw to give the Cubs the lead for good.
?ÄúDrew Gustafson had a great all-around game with five steals, six assists and some clutch baskets. Darius Westrich came back from a poor shooting performance in the semi-final game to lead us down the stretch,?Äù said Coach Jay Klein.
(B-E Game) Cubs?Äô Scoring: Darius Westrich 17; Del Guerrero 14; Hayden Gagnon 5; Drew Gustafson 7; Weston Hine 4; Michael Hoffman 2. All-tournament team: Darius Westrich, Del Guerrero, Taylor Bitzan (Brandon-Evansville), Cade Johnson (PACT), and Cal Wright (Mora). In the other first-round game, Brandon-Evansville defeated Mora 60-34, and in the third place game Mora defeated PACT, 78-56. Cal Wright had 37 points for Mora.
Kimball?Äôs boys?Äô basketball Hayden Gagnon, #11, does a layup during the varsity tournament. Staff photo by Marguerite Laabs.