BY KEVIN PRICE
kprice@gbtribune.com

HOISINGTON — Throughout the first half, it looked as though every time the Otis-Bison High School boys’ basketball team got close to tying the game, La Crosse would drop in an open 3-pointer to spread the score out again.
However, the La Crosse gained some wiggle room after the third quarter and went on to win the first-round game in the Hoisington Winter Jam, 49-37.
The Leopards record improves to 3-5, while Otis-Bison’s drops to 5-4.
After the game, Otis-Bison head coach Alan Clark had one message to send.
“We need to take care of the ball,” Clark said of Otis-Bison’s inability to convert turnovers into points..
La Crosse found its way to a 9-3 lead after the first two minutes of play, and the Leopards held a 16-10 lead after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Cougars came out and scored the first four points, stealing the ball from the Leopards, who started the second quarter with possession.
Two points from Michael Hlavaty and two from Trevor Keller drew the Cougars within two points of knotting the game.
Marcus Moeder responded with an open 3 from the left wing.
The Cougars continued to close the gap, only to have La Crosse widen it again.
Keller, who led the team with 12 points, scored four in the second quarter to bring the Cougars within 28-23 at halftime.
“We played hard,” Clark said. “There’s no question that we played hard. We did not play very smart, and we didn’t take care of the ball.
“The one bright spot was Matthew Crottinger on defense.”
In the second half, La Crosse began to put some distance between it and Otis-Bison, outscoring the Cougars 21-14.
Keller, along with Hlavaty, led the Cougars in the second half, combining for 11 of the team’s final 14 points.
Dominic Trapp added eight points in the game for the Cougars.
 
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Hoisington Winter Jam
At Hoisington
BOYS
La Crosse 49, Otis-Bison 37
OTIS-BISON (5-4)
       Trevor Keller 6 0-0 12, Michael Hlavaty 3 3-4 10, Dylan Wissman 0 1-2 1, Zachary Stejskal 0 0-0 0, Patrick Piper 1 0-0 2, Dominic Trapp 3 1-2 8, Matt Crotinger 0 0-0 0, Brandon Pechanec 2 0-0 4. Totals 15 5-8 37.
LA CROSSE (3-5)
     Kelly Biernacki 0 0-0 0, Clayton Basaall 1 0-0 2, Nick Schmidt 0 0-0 0, Scott Irvin 2 1-2 6, Marcus Moeder 5 2-2 13, Tayler Stull 2 2-2 6, Austin Webs 1 0-0 3, Kip Keeley 7 3-4 19. Totals 18 8-10 49.
Otis-Bison    10    13    3    11    —    37
La Crosse    16    12    9    12    —    49
       Three-point goals — La Crosse 5 (Keeley 2, Irvin 1, Moeder 1, Webs 1); Otis-Bison 2 (Hlavaty 1, Trapp 1).
 
St. John 53, Larned 30
ST. JOHN — St. John opened its tournament by easing past Larned in the first round of the St. John Lions Club Mid-Winter Tournament on Tuesday.
The Tigers found themselves behind 8-6 after the first quarter, but turned it around to lead by halftime.
Brandon Blakeslee led St. John with 15 points, including eight in the final quarter.
Zach Minnis added 10 points and Ethan Long put in seven.
Larned looked to Jahman Hill, who scored 16 points. Josh Wise contributed six points and Justin Vratil and Tyler Gleason each added four.
 
Macksville 74, Claflin 39
ST. JOHN — Macksville was up 30-19 at the half before exploding for 25 points in the third quarter to put the game out of the reach of Claflin at the St. John tournament.
Macksville was led by Kyle Bunker, who rang up 17 points. Adam Oak added 14 points and Derek Bevan scored nine.
Claflin looked to Benn Kirmer, who totaled 17 points.
 
South Central 62,
Pawnee Heights 44
DODGE CITY — South Central led 21-9 after the first eight minutes and Pawnee Heights was unable to recover in the first round of the Southern Plains Iroquois Athletics Association tournament on Tuesday night.
Chad Wallace pumped in 13 points to lead the Tigers. Jacob Hardiman joined him in double digits with 12 points.
Sam Spence dropped in eight points for the Pawnee Heights and Jarrid Vestering added seven.

Hoisington 60, Russell 37
HOISINGTON — Hoisington doubled Russell’s first-quarter points, finishing ahead, 17-8.
Hoisington went on to win in the first round of the Hoisington Winter Jam on Tuesday night.
Cody Stetler led the Cardinals with 18 points, including 12 in the first half.
Derrick Kaiser added 17 points for the Red Birds and Ryan Bieberle rang up 13.

GIRLS
Hoisington 46, Russell 43, OT
HOISINGTON — After four quarters, both teams were tied at 38 after a 13-point fourth quarter from Russell, but Hoisington was able to put in eight points in overtime to edge the Lady Broncos in the opening round of the Hoisington Winter Jam on Tuesday night.
Jordin Greer scored 16 points to lead the Lady Cardinals. Mallory Flagor, who added three points in overtime, joined Greer in double digits with 15.
Blakelee Cooper drained a 3-pointer in the final minutes and finished the game with seven points.
 
La Crosse 55, Otis-Bison 31
HOISINGTON — La Crosse jumped ahead 29-15 at halftime, and Otis-Bison was unable to recover, losing in the first round of the Hoisington Winter Jam on Tuesday night.
The Lady Cougars were led by Hannah Bannister, who dropped in 17 points, including for nine in the final quarter.
Janel Tammen added nine points. Kimberly Davis and MacKenzie Boone scored three and two, respectively.
 
South Central 65, Pawnee Heights 36
DODGE CITY — South Central jumped ahead of Pawnee Heights, 20-6, after one quarter and went on to win in the first round of the SPIAA tournament on Tuesday night.
The Lady Tigers were led by Capree Worthey and Jodie Skelton, who both finished with 11 points.
Skelton went 7 of 10 from the free-throw line, and Worthey drained Pawnee Heights’ only two 3-pointers.