Ell-Saline High School celebrated its winter homecoming Friday evening in Brookville, hosting the Berean Academy Warriors for a Heart of America League doubleheader on Sweetheart Night. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, it wouldn’t take long before things turned sour.
In the girls’ varsity matchup, Berean Academy’s suffocating man-to-man defense shut out the Cardinals in the first half, giving the Warriors a 16-0 lead at halftime. Ell-Saline found some offense in the third quarter to make it a 27-8 game going into the fourth period, but Berean closed out the game by shutting out the Cardinals 11-0 in the final frame on its way to a 38-8 victory.
Berean Academy (10-6, 4-2) junior Brooke Wiebe claimed game-high scoring honors, finishing with 11 points in the Warrior win. Freshman Anna Eldridge chipped in with nine points, while senior Mallory Wiebe added eight.
Ell-Saline (0-14, 0-6) received three points a piece from junior Sydney Hynes and sophomore Reece Ditto, with sophomore Hannah Backhus accounting for the remaining two points for the Cardinals in the contest.
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
Berean Academy 9 7 11 11 – 38
Ell-Saline 0 0 8 0 – 8
In the nightcap, the Cardinal boys started the game sluggishly and never recovered. The Warriors held a 16-2 lead after the first quarter on their way to a 65-36 win.
Berean Academy (13-3, 4-2) had nine plays find their way into the scoring column, with seniors Caleb Bisterfeldt and Devin Rust leading the squad with ten points a piece. Sophomore Chase Wiebe added nine points off the bench in the victory.
Ell-Saline (3-12, 1-5) received a tremendous individual effort from sophomore guard T.J. Morrical, who hit six three-point baskets on the night on his way to game-high scoring honors. Morrical finished with 21 points in the loss, while sophomore Treyton Peterson added nine.
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
Berean Academy 16 20 21 8 – 65
Ell-Saline 2 14 9 11 – 36
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