A total team effort was needed on Friday when the Alliance boy’s basketball team played Broken Bow. The Bulldogs got key contributions from several players in downing the Indians 73 to 64. Alliance had 4 players scoring in double digits in getting the win. The contest was a first-round matchup of a holiday tournament hosted by Broken Bow. Other teams involved are Boone Central and Adams Central. Junior Espen Lanik paced the Alliance offense with 17 points while sophomore Braeden Clarke added 14. With the victory, AHS improves to 6 and 2 for the season.
Alliance never trailed in the matchup. The Dogs took an early 4 to 0 lead in the opening stages thanks to buckets by Clarke and Payton Boyer. Action remained tight throughout the first quarter. The teams would trade baskets midway through the opening 8 minutes with the Dogs getting 2 hoops by Clarke. Up only 8 to 6, Alliance went on a big run. It began with a free throw by Lanik and closed with 7 consecutive points by Bulldog reserve Devan Graham. A Graham three was followed by goals by Lanik and Jaden Guerra. Heading to the second, Alliance was out in front 20 to 8.
Points were a plenty in quarter #2 with Broken Bow tallying 21 and the Dogs garnering 19. A trey by Lanik helped Alliance maintain their dominance. The 1-2 punch of Lanik and Guerra was big later in the quarter. A free throw by Guerra was followed by back to back goals by Lanik as the Dogs continued to be in control. With 5 minutes left, a bucket by Boyer and a deuce by Guerra made the score 33 to 20 in favor of the guests. Momentum then went to the hosts. The Indians would outscore the Bulldogs 9 to 6 to slice into deficit right before halftime. Alliance would get two pointers by Lanik, Clarke, and Guerra but a Broken Bow three at the buzzer made the score 39 to 29 after 2 periods of play.
Both squads would put 15 points on the board in the third. Three big 3 pointers by Alliance’s Lexton Salcido kept the Dogs in front. A hoop by the Indians started the scoring but a 7 to 3 run by Alliance helped the visitors stop the comeback. Hoops by Clarke and Boyer plus a Salcido three made the score 46 to 34 with under 5 minutes remaining in the third. The Indians responded with a three of their own and 2 to get within 7. Another three ball by Salcido pushed AHS advantage to 10 with 3 minutes remaining. The period ended with both teams getting a 2 point goal and a three. Scoring towards the finish of the period for the Dogs were Boyer who had a 2 and Salcido who netted another 3. Alliance led 54 to 44 heading to the fourth.
Action was close in the final 8 minutes of play. A two by the hosts sliced their deficit to 8. But goals by Guerra and Lanik gave the Bulldogs some breathing space. Four quick Indian scores ensued as the hosts pulled within 8. Clarke pushed the Alliance lead to 10 but 5 in a row by Broken Bow cut the Alliance advantage to only 5 at 60 to 55 with 5 minutes left to play. Four huge points by Bulldog Seth Meyring plus another trey by Lanik helped Alliance move ahead by 10. At the three minute mark, the hosts made one last push by scoring 4 in a row that made the score 67 to 61. Baskets by Clarke and Boyer in the final stages stopped the rally. Two free throws by Boyer and an Indian score finished off the game with the Dogs prevailing 73 to 64.
ALL 20 19 15 19 73
BB 8 21 15 20 64
Scoring: Lanik 17 Clarke 14 Boyer 12 Guerra 10 Salcido 9 Graham 7 Meyring 4.
With the win, the Bulldogs advanced to Saturday’s finals against Boone Central.