Overtime was needed Saturday in a contest between the 7th grade boy’s team from Alliance Middle School and the JV squad from St. Agnes. And in the end it was AMS coming out on top 35 to 25. The Bulldogs rallied late to tie the contest then outscored the Crusaders 10 to 0 in the extra three minute period in getting the win. With the loss, the Academy has a 2 and 1 record on the year. AMS’s Drey Perez was a beast, scoring 20 points to led the Bulldog offense. The Academy’s Liam Pena was the Crusaders top scorer with 11 while Chief Cody tossed in 7. A 2 two quarter B game was also played with St. Agnes winning the affair 13 to 6. Jaden Estevane-Acosta was the leader in the score column for the Academy with 7 tallies. Games were played at the Holy Rosary Parish Center.
An early three by Cody in the first game gave the hosts a 3 to 0 advantage. AMS came back with hoops by Bo McCune and Nehemiah Valdez to take a one point margin. The first closed with SA leading thanks to a bucket by Pena at 5 to 4.
St. Agnes bested the Dogs in the second, outscoring the Dogs 13 to 8.
Pena had the hot hand for the Academy. The seventh grader scored 9 tallies in the period as SA extended its lead. St. Agnes also got buckets from Declan Kirchner and Tee Johnson in the second to stay out in front. Perez had all 8 of the Dog’s tallies in the quarter. Heading to half, St. Agnes was up 18 to 12.
Seven more Perez points in the third helped AMS stay close. A three by Dog AJ Garcia began the scoring as AMS pulled to within 3.
Four more points by Perez ensued as the Bulldogs took the lead at 19 to 18.
St. Agnes countered with baskets by Estevane-Acosta and Cody to retake the lead.
Period #3 finished with a hoop by Perez and the Academy holding a one point lead at 22 to 21.
St. Agnes increased its advantage early in the finale thanks to a deuce by Cody and a free throw by Tristin Hansen. Down 4, the Bulldogs answered back with baskets by McCune and Perez. The Perez hoop knotted the game at 25, sending the battle to overtime. In the extra session, it was all AMS. The Dogs got OT scores from Perez, Garcia, McCune, and Valdez in posting the win 35 to 25.
AMS 4 8 9 4 10 35
SA 5 13 4 3 0 25
Scoring for AMS Perez 20 McCune 6 Valdez 4 Garcia 5
Scoring for SA Pena 11 Cody 7 Hansen1 Kirchner 2 Johnson 2 Estevane-Acosta 2.
SA roared to a big lead in the first quarter and won the JV game 13 to 6. First period baskets by Estevane-Acosta, Gavin Mahoney, and Max Bailey helped the Crusaders take an 8 to 0 after the first.
The second started with a Estevane-Acosta free throw and a hoop by Bulldog Ezekiel Galvan. Up 9 to 2, the Academy got another score by Estevane-Acosta to go up 9. AMS came back with 4 in a row thanks to tallies by Lennon Red Nest and Hunter Jensen. The 2 quarter affair closed with score by Kirchner. Final SA 13 AMS 6
AMS 0 6 6
SA 8 5 13
Scoring for the Dogs Galvan 2 Red Nest 2 Jensen 2 scoring for the Crusaders Estevane-Acosta 7 Kirchner 2 Bailey 2 Mahoney 2
The AMS 7th graders play in Gering on Saturday. St. Agnes’ JV team hosts Community Christian on Monday and Chadron on Thursday.