Chieftains notch two more, Flater reaches 1,000

The schedule was slam-packed for the Lake Holcombe boys basketball squad, with four games slated in one week’s time.

Jan. 26 vs. Winter conference (W 75-44)

Their week began with an away match-up at Winter, with the Chieftains a “little sluggish” to start the game, but Lake Holcombe took a 33-20 lead into halftime. In the second half, Lake Holcombe came out strong, outscoring Winter, 42-24.

That led to a 75-44 East Lakeland Conference victory.

“This was the fourth win in a row for the boys,” said coach Joy Webster. “It was also a great win, in that all 11 players saw court time and eight players got in the scoring column.

Senior Kaden Crank led all scorers, with 19 points, followed by senior Riley Gingras, with 18, and senior Brock Flater, with 17. Senior Will Kliegle put up 6 points, followed by junior Colton Minnick and sophomore Max Sauerwein, with 5 each.

Senior Tate Sauerwein and junior Sam Ewer also chipped in, with 2 and 3 points, respectively.

Gingras completed his double-double on the night, pulling down 11 rebounds. Crank also had a good night, pulling down 8 boards and 9 steals, followed by junior Nate Jones, with 4 steals. Gingras also led the team, with 3 assists.

Jan. 28 vs. Owen-Withee non-conference (L 75-54)

Stepping out of the conference to face a tough Owen-Withee team, Lake Holcombe put up good points during the match-up.

Trailing by nine at halftime, the Chieftains tried to make a comeback on their home court in the second half, but Owen-Withee was having none of it. The game went the way of the visitors, 75-54.

Krank knocked down a three, ending with 18 points, followed by Flater, with 10 points. Junior Dylan Bowen came next, with 7 points, six of those from three-point land. Minnick added 6 points, while Gingras and Kliegle each had 4 points.

T. Sauerwein and M. Sauerwein added 2 points each, and sophomore Brendan Anders chipped in with 1 point.

Jan. 29 vs. Birchwood conference (W 83-34)

To finish out the week, Lake Holcombe hosted Birchwood, with a big night for not only the Chieftains, but Flater, as well. Reaching a milestone few achieve, Flater hit his 1,000th point.

“I am very proud of Brock, as it takes a lot of work and determination to reach 1,000,” said Webster, “and he did it this season, with vision in only one eye.”

Lake Holcombe played good pressure defense, holding Birchwood to just 21 by halftime, opposed to the Chieftains’ 44.

“We had very balanced scoring tonight, with four players reaching double figures,” said Webster.

Flater ended the night with 20 points and led the team with 6 steals, followed by Crank with 4, and Minnick and Bowen with 3 each.

Gingras came next in the score book, with 15 points, followed closely by Bowen, with 14, and Crank with 10. Kliegle chipped in with 7 points, Minnick, with 6, and Ewer ended with 5.

Jones, sophomore Harley Schroeder and T. Sauerwein all got in the scoring column, with 2 points each.

Gingras, Crank and Flater combined for 20 rebounds, followed by T. Sauerwein, with 6.