RUSSELL, Kan. – The Smoky Valley Vikings went on the road on Thursday night in a non-league matchup with Russell. The Bronco girls pulled away in the fourth quarter for a seven-point win, while the Russell boys used a high-scoring third quarter to win by 15.
Girls-Russell 46, Smoky Valley 39 – The Vikings held a one-point lead at halftime at 19-18, but the Broncos outscored them 28-20 in the second half leading by as many as twelve late in the fourth quarter in the victory. Freshman Norah Mooney scored nine of her 16 points in the third quarter for Russell and led the Broncos in scoring, while Aubrey Birney added 15. Elsie Boughfman had a career high 19 points for the Vikings, while Kat Blanchat was held to nine points, marking her first game of the season not scoring in double figures. Russell improved to 5-9 while Smoky Valley fell to 5-8 with the loss.
SV – Boughfman 19, Blanchat 9, DeBaere 4, Haxton 3, Flax 2, Whittaker 2
Russell – Mooney 16, A. Birney 15, Reeves 7, T. Birney 4, Jefferson 2, Strobel 1
Boys-Russell 61, Smoky Valley 46 – Jake Mooney went 4-4 from three-point land to score 12 of Russell’s 17 first quarter points, setting the tone for the night. Mooney finished with a game-high and career-high 21 points, shooting 5-7 from three and 6-7 at the free throw line. Russell led by eight at half, but used a 20-14 third quarter to pull away for the double digit win. Trey Carlson added 12 points in the win for the Broncos. Smoky Valley got 14 each from Ty Heitschmidt and Braylon Olson, while Kristian Ryan returned from injury, playing in his first game since December 17, scoring 12 points in the loss. Smoky Valley is now 3-10, while Russell moved above .500 at 7-6.
SV – Heitschmidt 14, Olson 14, Ryan 12, Griffith 4, Pavlovich 2
Russell – Mooney 21, Carlson 12, Strobel 6, Wagner 6, Robinson 5, Rohr 5, Hernandez 4, Thielen 2
