Mitchell Christian teams swept by Ethan

ETHAN — The Ethan boys’ basketball team scored 27 points in the first quarter and never looked back.

“Ethan found their stroke and offensive rhythm, and we weren’t able to get them out of it the whole game,” said Mitchell Christian coach Dennis Martin, whose team lost 81-48 Thursday in Ethan. “Our pressure wasn’t what we hoped and they got us out of sync.”

Ethan’s Jace Connor scored a game-high 31 points and made five of the team’s eight 3-pointers in the game. Connor also led all players in rebounding with 11, giving him a double-double in the win. Blake Bartscher recorded 15 points for the Rustlers, who shot 32-of-72 from the field and 11-of-15 from the foul line.

Mitchell Christian had two players score in double figures in Wes VanderPol and Jackson Feiner. VanderPol had 16 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double and Feiner scored 15 points. The Eagles were 15-of-42 from the field and 12-of-16 from the free-throw line.

Mitchell Christian (2-10) plays Mount Vernon/Plankinton Tuesday in Plankinton, while Ethan (7-5) plays Sanborn Central/Woonsocket Monday in Forestburg.

ETHAN 81, MITCHELL CHRISTIAN 48

MCS (2-10)

*Boys’ high school basketball game Thursday in Ethan

Keegan Larson-Shield 1 0-0 2; Ethan Cooper 1 0-0 2; Jackson Feiner 5 1-2 13; Wes VanderPol 4 6-7 14; Adam Rasmussen 3 2-2 8; Chandler Nelson 1 3-5 5; Cody Gromer 1 0-0 2; Isaak Peitz 0 0-0 0; Riley Larson-Shields 0 0-0 0; Totals: 20 12-16 48.

Ethan (7-5)

Blake Bartscher 6 2-2 15; Jace Connor 12 2-3 31; Colton Bierle 2 0-0 6; Anthony Huber 2 1-2 5; Tyler Myers 3 2-3 8; Brandon Andersen 1 2-2 4; Camden Myers 5 1-1 11; Rylee Riggs 0 0-0 0; Nick Mutziger 0 0-0 0; Ethan Riggs 0 0-0 0; Hanner Tilberg 0 1-2 1; Totals: 31 11-15 81.

E 27 50 66 81

MCS 6 19 31 48

3-point goals: MCS 2 (Feiner 2), E 8 (Bartscher 1, Connor 5, Bierle 2); Rebounds: MCS 30 (VanderPol 10), E 39 (Connor 11); Turnovers: MCS 19, E 9.

Ethan girls top MCS 56-49

By The Daily Republic

ETHAN — The Ethan girls’ basketball team scored 24 points in the fourth quarter to lift it over Mitchell Christian 56-49 Thursday.

The Rustlers led by one at the end of the third quarter but outscored Mitchell Christian 24-18 in the final frame.

“Ethan hit some big shots that turned the tides,” MCS coach Jackie VanLaecken said. “It was just a battle back-and-forth and a great game. The girls played hard the whole game.”

Ethan was led by Darbi Gustafson, who recorded a double-double with game-highs 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Rachel Hawkins recorded 13 points and six rebounds and Kala Nurnberg added 11 points. Ethan was 22-of-45 from the field.

The Eagles had three players score 11 points in Alexa VanLaecken, Becca Glanzer and Emily Reynen. Britanny Zoss brought down a team-high six rebounds.

Mitchell Christian shot 22-of-45 from the field, 2-of-3 from the three-point range and 3-of-6 from the free-throw line.

Mitchell Christian (8-4) hosts Wessington Springs Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mitchell Christian School, while the Rustlers (8-3) play Sanborn Central/Woonsocket Monday in Forestburg.

ETHAN 56 MITCHELL CHRISTIAN 49

*Girls’ high school basketball game Thursday in Ethan

MCS (8-4)

Alexa VanLaecken 5-11 1-3 11; Becca Glanzer 4-8 2-3 11; Khiree Held 4-6 0-0 8; Emily Reynen 5-10 0-0 11; Brittany Zoss 3-8 0-0 6; Lindsay Thompson 0-0 0-0 0; Abbie Reynen 1-2 0-0 2; Ashley Glanzer 0-0 0-0 0; Totals: 22-45 3-6 49.

Ethan (8-3)

Darbi Gustafson 7-13 0-1 14; Morgan Tuttle 1-3 0-0 2; Rachel Hawkins 5-11 3-6 13; Bailey Grenoble 3-7 0-0 8; Whitney Endres 1-3 2-2 5; Katie Bicek 0-0 0-1 0; Anna Mueller 0-0 0-0 0; Janae Gustafson 0-1 0-0 0; Kala Nurnberg 4-6 0-0 11; Kacey Bartscher 1-1 0-0 3; Anna Miiller 0-0 0-0 0; Totals: 22-45 5-10 56.

E 8 25 32 56

MCS 15 21 31 49

3-point goals: MCS 2-3 (Becca Glanzer 1, Reynen 1), E 7-8 (Grenoble 2, Endres 1); Rebounds: MCS 30 (Zoss 5), E 19 (Darbi Gustafson 10); Assists: MCS 17 (VanLaecken 6), E 17 (Hawkins 4, Endres 4); Steals: MCS 11 (Becca Glanzer 3), E 6 (Darbi Gustafson 2); Turnovers: MCS 11, E 13.

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