Minneapolis Lions boys open the season 0-3 after a 62-31 loss to the Halstead Dragons on Friday. The game was played at Kansas Wesleyan University as it was the last matchup of the Tri-County Classic.

The Lions struggled offensively in the first quarter against the Dragons only scoring one field goal in the first eight minutes of the game off a 3-pointer from Senior Trent Brubaker. Halstead led 14-3 after one.

Freshman Trent Moeckel and Senior TreVaughn Thomas tried to close the gap for the Lions in the second quarter. Both players knocked in seven points in the period, but Halstead would answer each run with a timely bucket from Senior Baylor Bohling. Bohling hit two 3-pointers late in the second quarter and dropped 10 of his 12 points in the first half. Dragons led 35-18 at halftime.

Halstead, who won the Tri-County Classic for the second straight year, would outscore Minneapolis 18-6 in the third quarter behind five points from Senior Kasen O’Neal and four from Junior Braden Gerber.

Junior Kaden McCullick, along with Thomas, led Minneapolis in scoring with nine. Moeckel had seven, while Brubaker had six.

Dragons were led by 15 from O’Neal, 12 from Bohling and 10 from Senior Wyatt Seibel.

Minneapolis will be at home on Tuesday to start league play versus Ellsworth.

Halstead’s Pressure Too Much For Lions

Minneapolis girls fell to 1-2 on the season following a 47-31 loss to Halstead.

The Lions had a balanced first half offensively with four players scoring four points in the first half. Minneapolis was only down six at the half, 21-15.

Halstead full-court pressure force Minneapolis into several turnovers in the third quarter, and would outscore the Lions 26-16 in the second half.

Minneapolis were led in scoring by Senior Faythe Korinek, who had 10 points. Junior Karisma Vignery dropped seven, while Sophomore Zoie Shupe and Senior Lauren Gragg had four.

Halstead was led by Freshman Madi McClain with 12, Freshamn Karenna Gerber with 11, and Senior Daphne Williams with 10. Freshman Josie Engel had eight.

By Skylar Nosker

https://soundcloud.com/minneapolis-lions/minneapolis-12-08-17