The Oskaloosa 8th grade boys’ quest to have an unbeaten season is still alive after they posted 2 wins over Pella Christian and 1 over Grinnell.

On December 17th, the Indians faced their toughest challenge of the year against a tall and talented Pella Christian team. Oskaloosa jumped out early and lead 25-11 at halftime. The Eagles made a run cutting the lead to 7 before Osky pulled away for the 53-39 win. Tyler Miller had his best all-around game of the year leading the Indians with 19

Tyler Miller had his best all-around game of the year leading the Indians with 19 points, 5 steals, and 5 assists. Xavier Foster had 11 points 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Noah Van Veldhuizen also had 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. Iszac Schultz had a big game on the boards with 9 rebounds. Schultz also chipped in 6 points. Reese Sarver, Colton Butler, and Walker Newman all scored 2 points. Van Veldhuizen and Sarver both played great defense in the game. Schultz was key in handling P.C. half-court press by making good decisions with the ball.

The “B” team fell 46-8 with Sullivan Tighe leading the way with 4 points. Collin Bambrook and Andy Scholes each scored 2 points.

The Indians then hosted Grinnell on 1-4-16 in the first game after Christmas break. Once again Oskaloosa jumped out to a big lead and coasted to the 46-23 win.

Tyler Miller and Reese Sarver led the Indians with 11 points each. Iszac Schultz and Noah Van Veldhuizen were next with 8 points each and they pulled down 5 and 7 rebounds each. Colton Butler had 6 pints and Dalton Deney rounded out the scoring with 2 points.

The “B” team picked up their first win of the year 26-12 over Grinnell. Sullivan Tighe led the way with 7 points while Owen Gordon had his best game of the year scoring 6 points and pulling down 3 rebounds. Caden Bambrook had 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. Dalton Deney had 3 points with Treyton Shilling, Mason Barnhart, and Andy Scholes all chipping in with 2 points. Shilling led the team with 7 rebounds.

On 1-11-16 the Indians traveled to Pella for a rematch with the Eagles. Oskaloosa would be without the services of 6’5 center Xavier Foster for this game due to a broken bone in his foot which occurred in the last meeting verses P.C. The Indians switched from a pressure man to man defense in the 1st game to a sagging zone defense in this game and the strategy worked as the Indians built a 12 point lead in the first half.

The Eagles would battle back and take a 31-30 lead before Tyler Miller scored 5 points on a 3 point play after a steal and a bucket. The Indians would hold on for a 43-39 win in the hard fought contest. Miller and Noah Van Veldhuizen led the way scoring with 10 points each. Colton Butler had 9 points while Iszak Schultz scored 7 points and had 6 assists. Reese Sarver had 5 points and Walker Newman scored 2 points and pulled down 5 rebounds. Treyton Shilling gave the Indians some much-needed minutes off the bench and pulled down 2 rebounds.

Oskaloosa hosts Sigourney on Friday at 4:30 pm.

Story provided by Credit Coach Doug DeKock

Baldwin City, Kan.–Just two days after holding on at home, the William Penn women’s basketball team did not have enough in the tank to run with #21 Baker in a 71-46 Heart of America Athletic Conference loss Monday.

The Statesmen (7-8, 4-4 Heart) never led in a matchup that witnessed them being outshot 43.1{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b}-29.4{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b}.  WPU did hold a 45-40 margin on the glass, but the Wildcats (11-4, 5-3 Heart) still managed to post a 16-14 edge in second-chance points.

The visitors, who trailed 35-13 at the break, could not muster a comeback in the final 20 minutes of action.  The navy and gold also succumbed to 24 turnovers, which led to a 23-7 mark in points off turnovers for Baker.

Alyssa Phillips (Jr., Gurnee, Ill., Communications) had a big evening, accounting for nearly half of her squad’s points, finishing with 22 on 7-for-13 shooting.  She also added eight rebounds and two steals.  She could have tallied many more, however, but had issues at the line with an 8-for-18 performance (WPU was 13-for-31 overall).

Vashti Nwagbaraocha (Fr., Milwaukee, Wis., Exercise Science) joined Phillips in double figures with 13 points in addition to eight rebounds; the freshman assisted twice as well.  Kadejah Young (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn., Physical Education) matched Phillips with a pair of thefts.

“Unfortunately, we did not compete tonight and we are not good enough yet to not compete every time out,” Head Coach Willie Scott said.

Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa Thursday to host Central Methodist (Mo.) in Heart play at 5:30 p.m.

Story provided by Wade Steinlage

Baldwin City, Kan.–After a tough setback over the weekend, the Statesmen men’s basketball team needed to get its confidence back and did soMonday with an emphatic 93-78 Heart of America Athletic Conference win over Baker.

#5 WPU (14-2, 7-1 Heart) went wire-to-wire to return to the winning trail.  The Wildcats (7-8, 3-5 Heart) attempted to stay close, trailing just 16-15, but the visitors scored the next five points and never led by less than five again.

Up 45-33 at halftime, the navy and gold weathered a few small Baker runs after the break, finishing the win with a steamy 56.9{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b} shooting mark (Baker was solid as well at 50.0{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b}).

William Penn also succeeded at the line (16-for-20, 80.0{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b}) and behind the arc (11-for-20, 45.8{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b}).  The victors forced BU into 14 turnovers (12 for WPU), leading to a 20-13 margin in points off turnovers.  Board play was dominated by the Statesmen as well at 35-24, leading the Statesmen to outscore the Wildcats 13-9 in second-chance points.

Dondre Alexander (Jr., Iowa City, Iowa, Physical Education) was as efficient as he has been all year, going 8-for-13 (5-for-10 3-PT) en route to 22 points.  He also dished out three assists and stole two Wildcat passes.

Steven Roundtree (Sr., Jacksonville, Fla., Physical Education) was next with 18 points, while Jessie Pernell (Sr., North Augusta, S.C., Physical Education), with 16, and Brady Burford (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Physical Education), with 12, also reached double digits.

Jeff Drew (Sr., Little Rock, Ark., Sociology) guided the bench with seven points.  Antonio Levy (Jr., Chicago, Ill., Physical Education) (six points) and Charles Knowles (Jr., Chicago, Ill., Physical Education) (team-high six rebounds) returned to the hardwood in solid fashion.

“This was a good bounce-back win for us,” Head Coach John Henry said.  “We were all embarrassed by our performance last Saturday, so we needed this tonight.”

Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa Thursday to host Central Methodist (Mo.) in Heart play at 7:30 p.m.

Story provided by Wade Steinlage

In boys’ basketball last night:

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 62, Twin Cedars 55

Fairfield 52, Mid-Prairie 44

Mediapolis 64, Davis County 52