MACKSVILLE — The Macksville High School boys’ basketball team had four players score in double digits against Central plains on Friday night.
After one quarter, the Oilers only trailed by one point, but Macksville added to its lead in the second and third quarters to win 64-50.
“I thought both teams played hard,” said Mustangs head coach Jeff Kuckleman, who reached a milestone of 200 head-coaching victories on Tuesday against Cunningham and now has 201. “It was one of those things where I don’t think we played particularly well.
“At times we defended well and at other times, it looked like we hadn’t practice defense very well. It was a good ball game, and our kids played well. We turned the ball over a little bit too much in the first half, but we got better at that in the second half.”
The Mustangs, who are ranked No. 6 in Class 1A Division-I in the latest Kansas Basketball Coaches Association poll, closed the first half with an 8-2 run, led by Adam Oak and Tanner Tranbarger.
Oak finished the game with a game-high 15 points and also grabbed nine rebounds. Tranbarger finished with 13 points.
A 10-0 run to close out the third quarter propelled the Mustangs to a 52-36 lead.
Taylor Tranbarger, who finished with 14 points, began the run with a three-point play and a 3-pointer.
“It was nice to see him break out,” Kuckelman said. “He’s been struggling with his shot. He’s been real frustrated. It was nice to see him hit some shots and break out because he just plays a lot better all-around when that happens. He’s been doing a good job on the boards, so he just stays with it.”
Benn Kirmer led Central Plains with 12 points. Joe Barton, a 6-foot-4 junior, finished with a double-double in recording 10 points and 14 rebounds.
“This is Joe’s second game this week where he’s turned in a gem,” Mettlen said. “He played better the last two games than he’s played in the three years that I’ve coached him so far. Today was the best game that he’s played, but the biggest deal was effort. He gave a supreme effort. I don’t think he’s had to come out of a game so tired as he did with two minutes left to go.
“He just couldn’t go anymore because he played so hard all game. We keep getting that from him, and we keep getting the effort from Patrick Hubbard, we’re going to be OK. Our 2-5 record doesn’t show how good we are.”
Hubbard finished with three points and two rebounds.
Adolfo Ibarra finished with a double-double for Macksville, scoring 12 points and grabbing10 boards.
“We did a good job early getting it to him,” Kuckelman said. “Then he didn’t get as many touches as we probably needed him to get. He attacks the basket really well. There are a couple of finishes that he normally gets that he didn’t get, but other than that, we just didn’t get him enough touches, I thought.”
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
At Macksville
BOYS
Friday
Macksville 64, Central Plains 50
CENTRAL PLAINS (2-5)
Layne Bieberle 1 3-6 5, Benn Kirmer 5 1-2 12, Bryce Steiner 2 0-2 6, Patrick Hubbard 0 3-4 3, Tim Stueder 3 0-0 6, Joe Barton 5 0-0 10, Bryce Straub 1 2-2 5, Evan Liebl 1 1-2 3. Totals 17 10-18 50.
MACKSVILLE (6-1)
Tanner Tranbarger 5 2-2 13, Jorge Baray 3 2-4 8, Adolfo Ibarra 6 0-0 12, Colten Ary 0 0-0 0, Seth Filbert 1 0-0 2, Adam Oak 5 4-7 15, Taylor Tranbarger 4 4-5 14, Jordan Welch 0 0-0 0, Simon Miller 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 12-18 64.
Central Plains 11 11 14 14 — 50
Macksville 12 18 22 12 — 64
Three-point goals — Macksville 4 (Tay. Tranbarger 2, Oak, Tan. Tranbarger); Central Plains 3 (Steiner 2, Kirmer).
