Ravens Come Up With a Win in Season Opener

Ravens Come Up With a Win in Season Opener

Sophomore Grant Bender goes in strong for a basket at Ravens first home game

The Hillcrest Ravens overcame foul trouble and a half-time deficit to overpower the visiting Mediapolis Bulldogs in the second half, to gain the 60-33 victory Tuesday in the season opener. Trailing 20-19 at the break, the Ravens scored first and proceeded to outscore the Bulldogs 22-5 in the decisive third period to lead 41-25. A 11-3 spurt to begin the fourth quarter gave Hillcrest a 52-28 lead, as everyone got into the action for the Ravens.

Senior guard Eli Ours led four Ravens in double figures with 17 points. Junior guard Noah Miller tallied 11 points with eight assists, and junior wing Aiden Krabill and sophomore guard Grant Bender added 10 points apiece. The Ravens knocked down eight threes, including three from Ours, two apiece from Krabill and Bender, and one from Miller. Krabill led with five rebounds, and Ours and Miller had three steals apiece. Senior forwards John Hughes and Will Kolck had five and four points, respectively, and  senior forward Aidan Yoder rounded out the scoring with three points.
 
Coach Dwight Gingerich said “I liked how our guys fought through foul trouble to get to half-time, and then it was good to see us put together some runs in the third quarter to pull away. Each player did good things to help the team, and it’s always great to get that first one.”
 
Hillcrest next plays on Friday at home against conference favorite Wapello.