HILLSBORO, Kan. (TaborBluejays.com) – After a two-game stretch on the road, Bluejay Basketball made their return to Tabor College Gymnasium, hoping to get back in the win column against Oklahoma Wesleyan University. A disappointing result on Wednesday could have potentially phased them, but the Bluejays came out on a mission. The Eagles came to Hillsboro with something to play for as well, hoping to extend their four-game win streak.
Tabor got off to a hot start as Kalep Crane put the Bluejays on the board first with a nice jumper and Zach Hiebert followed that shot by splashing in a big three, forcing Oklahoma Wesleyan to call an early first timeout less than a minute into the contest. TC led by as many as four in the first half, before the Eagles took over the lead at the 13:35 mark. After going down by as many as 15 points, the Bluejays got back into a rhythm, pulling back within seven points heading into the halftime break, 38-31.
The Bluejays could have easily fallen behind and given up in the second half, but they did the exact opposite. As much as the Eagles continued to score, Tabor continued to push and fight back. Huge threes from Hiebert, Jackson Baer, Creighton Kukula, and Kam Kaniper helped provide the juice the Bluejays needed to continue to stay in the game. Ultimately, the Bluejays fell by 17, 88-71, but fans could tell that something was different. The team continues to stay together and fight as the season goes on and Saturday’s contest showed that they won’t be going away anytime soon.
Kalep Crane led the Bluejays with 22 points, while Zach Hiebert followed with 16 points and Jackson Baer rounded out the squad in double figures with 10. Crane also led the team on the glass with nine boards and in steals with three. Kam Kaniper led the team in blocks with two.
Tabor actually out-shot the Eagles from field goal range, shooting 44.8%, as well as from beyond the arc, shooting 30.4%.
The Bluejays return to action on Wednesday as they head west on Highway 56 to take on rival McPherson College. In the first matchup between the two teams this season, Tabor sent the Bulldogs back to McPherson with a loss, 79-75.
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Tabor College is a Christ-centered institution located in Hillsboro, Kansas. The Bluejays are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC).
