CHAPMAN, Kan. – It was a long-awaited night on Tuesday as the Smoky Valley Vikings basketball teams picked up their first wins of the season. The Viking girls used a career high 31-point performance from their senior leader Kat Blanchat to pull away for an 11-point win, while the Viking boys controlled the game most of the night in a 24-point win over Chapman.
Girls-Smoky Valley 57, Chapman 46 – Smoky Valley held an eight point lead late in the first quarter, but Chapman went on a 13-0 run stretching from the end of the first to the beginning of the second to claim a five point lead. The Vikings had the game tied by halftime. Trailing 35-33 in the third, Smoky Valley went on a 10-0 run that was sparked by the first three-point make of the season from Blanchat. The Vikings were up 43-35 after three and used their momentum to outscore the Irish 14-11 in the final frame for the 11-point win.
Blachat was the story of the girls game, again dropping a career high 31 on 10-15 shooting and 10-16 at the free throw line. Elsie Boughfman added 11 in the win as Smoky Valley improved to 1-6. Chapman fell to 1-5. They were led by Avery Baer with 17 points.
SV – Blanchat 31, Boughfman 11, Haxton 9, Schrag 4, Debaere 2
Chapman – A. Baer 17, Kirkpatrick 9, J. Baer 6, Beck 5, Gaston 4, Rogers 3, Gentry 2
Boys-Smoky Valley 60, Chapman 36 – Smoky Valley led from start to finish as they had a 12-6 advantage after one quarter. Chapman got within one early in the second, but the Vikings took a 26-19 lead into the locker room. A 15-6 third quarter gave Smoky Valley a 15-point lead after three and they never looked back, outscoring the Irish 34-17 in total in the second half. Ty Heitschmidt led the way with 20 points for Smoky Valley, but Braylon Olson was a big standout as well, dropping a career high 19 points in the win. Smoky Valley is now 1-6 on the season while Chapman dropped to 0-6. Nobody scored in double figures for the Irish as they were led by Jed Moody with eight points.
SV – Heitschmidt 20, Olson 19, Gengler 7, Pavlovich 6, Anderson 5, Carlson 3
Chapman – Moody 8, Muniz 6, Cote-Boss 5, Bauman 4, Elliott 4, Rothchild 3, Krogman 2, Scott 2, Craig 1, Decker 1
