Boone Central boys place 5th
One more point or two. Who knows?
Who knows what might have happened if Boone Central had found the needed extra point(s) and remained in the winners bracket of the 2022-23 Mid-State Conference basketball tournament.
As it was, #5 seeded Boone lost an excruciating 74-73 decision to #4 O’Neill (13-5) in the opening round of Mid-State play, then won two games in the consolation bracket to place fifth in the event.
The Cardinals battled back following a sluggish start against O’Neill and had chances late. Landon Classen, who burned Boone Central with 36 points in an O’Neill win at Albion Jan. 6, tallied eight first-quarter points to boost O’Neill to a 19-11 lead. The Eagles maintained a 35-27 halftime advantage before Boone fought back with a 20 point third period, sparked by two Kolton Rasmussen 3-pointers and one apiece by Ryan Drueppel, Parker Borer and Alex Christo. The teams seesawed to the end with O’Neill’s Drew Morrow providing the final edge, scoring seven of his game-leading 27 points in the overtime period.
Boone had no trouble bouncing back Friday in consolation play, whipping Crofton 71-35.
The Cardinals were solid in the first half, then used a third quarter blitz to blow Crofton (4-15) away. Boone led 30-20 at intermission (Simon McFarland scoring 16 of the Warriors’ 20 points), then outscored Crofton 21-7 in the first eight minutes of the second half. The Cards limited McFarland to just one point in the period, as Alex Christo tallied eight (two 3-pointers), and Brant Benes and Trent Patzel four apiece for Boone.
Boone Central closed the conference tournament with a hard-fought 44-36 victory over Norfolk Catholic (12-6) in Saturday’s fifth place contest.
It was the kind of game Boone Central (14-6) had to grind through. The Cardinals rode six points by Patzel and five by Alex Christo to an 11-10 lead and held an 18-17 edge at halftime. Drueppel and Borer made a 3-pointer each in the third period, and Boone sank 5-of-6 free throws in the final stanza to seal the win.
Lady Cardinals snare one tourney win
Following several days to rest and recover from a brutal stretch of five games in eight days, Boone Central flew past O’Neill 54-37 in the Mid-State Conference tournament bracket play-in game at Albion Jan. 30.
Boone used aggressive pressure defense and pushed the pace from the outset, never giving the visiting Eagles a chance to find their rhythm. The Cardinals built an 18-10 lead in the opening quarter, had a 28-21 halftime advantage, and outscored O’Neill 26-16 following intermission.
Success did not come easily Tuesday, as Mid-State #1 seed Guardian Angels Central Catholic (17-2) romped by Boone 52-30. The Bluejays held Boone Central to single digit scoring in every quarter, building a 31-14 lead by halftime.
The Cardinals attempted only 36 total shots and committed 21 turnovers.
Boone Central (7-14) was game in its consolation contest Thursday, but could not score consistently enough in a 52-37 loss to Norfolk Catholic (10-10).
The teams were tied 13-13 before Catholic used a 17-9 run in the second quarter to lead 30-22 at intermission. The Cardinals continued to battle and pulled within three – 34-31 – near the end of the third period. Norfolk Catholic knocked down a 3-pointer to end the quarter, however, and outscored Boone 15-6 in the final stanza.
Further details and stats in Print & Online editions of Albion News/Boone County Tribune
