A Tale Of Two Games
Dec 11, 2024 12:34PM ● By Jody Reeves
Craig Yost driving to the hoop.
The North Gem boys basketball team opened up the season facing two conference foes in the same week. Much like their football team the Cowboys basketball team is playing with minimal numbers. In fact they have the absolute minimum number of players required to play a game on their roster. With just five players every game will require extra strategy. If just one player gets injured or fouls out they will be at a great disadvantage.
The Cowboys first game of the year took place at Watersprings Christian Academy. The Warriors feeling very comfortable at home quickly took control of this game. Watersprings poured it on in the first as they seemed to be nearly perfect. The Cowboys Ryver Hayden tried to keep North Gem in the game with a pair of threes but the rest of the team could only manage three made foul shots in the period. The Cowboys quickly trailed 25-9 and things would not improve much throughout the remainder of the game. This game easily reached the mercy rule requirements and the Cowboys fell in the season opener. Even with double the players listed on the roster the Warriors only used six to score against the Cowboys five.
Following that opening loss the Cowboys got to host their first home game of the year against American Heritage. The Patriots showed up to Bancroft with a full squad of fifteen players. The Patriots had an obvious size advantage but the athleticism was all Cowboys. Hayden and Yost took control of the game early, each scoring four points in the first as the Cowboys jumped out to a 13-3 first quarter lead. North Gem kept things rolling over the next two quarters outscoring the Patriots 28-13 in the middle of the game. The Cowboys finally hit the mercy rule spread towards the end of the fourth quarter to end this one early.
The Senior Hayden will continue to lead his team as they host two more district foes this week. The Cowboys will play Taylors Crossing on Tuesday and Grace Lutheran on Thursday before hitting the road to Leadore on Friday.
Cowboys 9 6 6 7 28
Warriors 25 15 17 6 63
G.Setser 9, C.Yost 6, R.Hayden 13
Cowboys 13 14 14 12 53
Patriots 3 4 9 3 19
G.Setser 15, P.Hill 2, R.Hatch 2, C.Yost 11, R.Hayden 23
