By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural and Hayden were at a defensive stalemate most of Tuesday night's Centennial League boys basketball game, but the Junior Blues were able to breakthrough with an 11-4 run in the fourth quarter to secure a 34-27 victory over one of their biggest rivals at Hayden.
“We showed a level of competitiveness we haven’t shown all year, which was nice,'' Washburn Rural coach Kevin Muff said. "I don’t know if it was because it was a rivalry game or what it was but I thought our guys played tough.''
![Rural senior Quincey Kidd scored a game-high 15 points in the Junior Blues' 34-27 Centennial League win at Hayden Tuesday. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]](/images/aa-images/QuinceyKidd2.jpg)
Rural senior Quincey Kidd scored a game-high 15 points in the Junior Blues' 34-27 Centennial League win at Hayden Tuesday. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The game was an intense battle from the opening tip.
Rural 6-foot-8 center Brock Howard man to man with 6-5 Hayden center Joe Otting was a marquee big man matchup. Howard and Otting were playing aggressive and physical basketball all four quarters which made it tough for anyone to score from mid-range or inside the paint.
“Our guys’ tough and physical play tonight was the only way we could beat a team like Hayden,'' Muff said. "Coach (Dwayne) Paul has them playing as good as any team in our league right now, as far as playing together. My hats off to him and that team. They gave us a fight.''
In the first quarter, Hayden got two 3-point shots from Jacob Padilla and Jake Muller, which gave the Wildcats momentum early. Rural had a difficult time making shots in the first quarter against Hayden’s defense and the Wildcats would take a 12-6 lead to the second quarter.
Jack Bachelor would be the man in front of the Rural pack in the second quarter. Bachelor would draw multiple fouls, hit a couple of free throws, and open up the floor for his teammates. The ability to get to the free throw line and play tough was the key to getting out in front before the half, with Rural taking a 17-16 lead.
The third quarter was a carbon copy of the first half. Shots weren’t falling at a high clip, a large number of fouls and good physical defense was the epitome of the quarter. Rural’s Jacob Hirschi and Tre Morris were outstanding in defensive transition. Hayden’s Trent Duffey and Peyton Bartlett were also standout defenders in the quarter. Hayden would outscore Washburn Rural a slim 7-6 in the entire quarter.
With a 23-23 tie heading into the fourth, it was anybody’s game. In the first four minutes of the quarter, only two baskets were made. With four minutes left of the game, the Junior Blues would take off.
Senior guard Quincy Kidd was the most valuable player in the fourth quarter. He flipped the switch with the game on the line. Kidd was able to take over with a couple of converted, heavily contested shots. Kidd also earned his way to the charity stripe. The senior went five of five from the free throw line to secure the win for Washburn Rural down the stretch, finishing with a game-high 15 points.
Washburn Rural (2-2, 2-2) is back on the road Friday to take on the Seaman Vikings (2-2, 2-2).
“We have to play better offensively. We have to execute at a higher level. We have the ability to be better and we need to keep taking steps forward to get to where we want to be,” said Muff.
Hayden (1-2, 1-2) will travel to Junction City on Friday night.
WASHBURN RURAL BOYS 34, HAYDEN 27
Washburn Rural Boys 6 11 6 11 – 34
Hayden 12 4 7 4 – 27
Washburn Rural (2-2, 2-2) – Kidd 3 8-12 15, Bachelor 2 3-4 7, Howard 2 1-2 5, Hirschi 1 0-2, 2, Morris 1 0-0, 2, Durst 0 2-3 2, Hanks 0 1-2 1.
Hayden (1-2, 1-2) – Otting 3 1-2 7, Padilla 2 1-3, 7, Duffey 2 0-1 6, Muller 1 2-2, 5, Ham 1 0-0 2.
3 Point goals – Washburn Rural 1 (Kidd) Hayden 5 (Duffey 2, Padilla 2, Muller). Total fouls – Washburn Rural 18, Hayden 24. Fouled out – Padilla.
