Playing in their first Midland Trail Conference Tournament had to feel like a whirlwind for Red Hill High School’s boys’ basketball team last week, as the Salukis played three games in three days in three different locations.
Playing in their first Midland Trail Conference Tournament had to feel like a whirlwind for Red Hill High School’s boys’ basketball team last week, as the Salukis played three games in three days in three different locations.
Following an upset win over Sandoval (58-50) in their first game (Jan. 16), the Salukis dropped back-to-back games and were eliminated from the 10-team field.
In the quarterfinals Jan. 17, 10th-seeded Red Hill lost at second-seeded Cisne, 74-55.
Red Hill trailed 21-17 after one quarter, then outscored Cisne 18-12 in the second quarter to take a 35-33 lead at halftime. Cisne countered by outscoring the Salukis 23-15 in the third quarter to take a 56-50 lead into the fourth quarter, then outscored RHHS 18-5 in the final period to pull away for the win.
Jacob Powden led RHHS with 15 points, while Drayen Pentell contributed 12, Hayden Arbuckle and Ozzy Ash scored 10 points apiece, Avery Arbuckle netted six and Isaiah Stitt added two.
Cisne had just four players score in the game, but all of them reached double figures. Anden Atwood led the Runnin’ Lions with 28 points, while Gavyn Harrell and Cooper Bowen each scored 16 and Landen Keck netted 14.
In other quarterfinal action Tuesday, top-seeded Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran hammered eighth-seeded Grayville, 81-33, fourth-seeded Webber Township downed fifth-seeded Woodlawn, 60-37 and sixth-seeded Waltonville knocked off third-seeded Wayne City, 64-58.
That sent the Salukis into the consolation bracket against Wayne City Wednesday (Jan. 18) in Woodlawn, where they suffered an 82-66 loss.
Red Hill fell behind 25-12 after one quarter, was down 42-30 at halftime and 67-49 after three quarters, then the Salukis won the fourth quarter 17-15, but it was not nearly enough.
Powden led RHHS with 24 points, while Hayden Arbuckle posted 17, Ash scored 12, Avery Arbuckle netted eight and Pentell added five.
Justin Durham led Wayne City with 27 points, while Chase Smith scored 18, Jonny Durham contributed 15 and Grant Lewis scored 10.
In the other consolation semifinal, Grayville beat Woodlawn 71-67, while Patoka-Odin downed Sandoval, 56-51, for ninth-place.
In Thursday’s semifinals, Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran hammered Webber Township, 71-34, while Cisne edged Waltonville, 74-71.
Final round games Saturday saw Wayne City beat Grayville 69-55 for the consolation championship; Webber Township down Waltonville 56-46 for third place and Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran hammer Cisne, 68-33, in the championship game.
Red Hill (2-19) was scheduled to play at Waltonville Tuesday for a MTC contest, while the Salukis are next slated to play a non-conference game at Vincennes Rivet Friday at 6 p.m.
2023 Midland Trail Conference Boys Basketball Tournament
At Cisne
Red Hill 17 18 15 5 - 55
Cisne 21 12 23 18 - 74
RED HILL (55)
Drayden Pentell 4 2-3 12, Jacob Powden 6 2-2 15, Hayden Arbuckle 3 1-2 10, Avery Arbuckle 2 0-0 6, Ozzy Ash 5 0-2 10, Lance Moore 0 0-0 0, Isaiah Stitt 1 0-0 2, TOTALS 21 FG, 5-8 FT, 55 TP.
CISNE (74)
Gavyn Harrell 6 2-3 16, Anden Atwood 12 0-0 28, Russel Best 0 0-0 0, Landen Keck 6 2-2 14, Cooper Bowen 5 5-5 16, Kade Atwood 0 0-0 0, Kayden Dagg 0 0-0 0, Hagen Howard 0 0-0 0, TOTALS 29 FG, 9-10 FT, 74 TP.
3-point goals - H. Arbuckle 3, A. Arbuckle 2, Pentell 2, Powden, Atwood 4, Harrell 2, Bowen.
Team fouls - RHHS 11, CHS 11. Fouled out - none. Technical foul - none.
At Woodlawn
Wayne City 25 17 25 15 - 82
Red Hill 12 18 19 17 - 66
WAYNE CITY (82)
Justin Durham 9 9-13 27, Jonny Durham 6 0-0 15, Chase Smith 7 2-3 18, Grant Lewis 4 2-3 10, Grayson Habermaas 3 2-5 8, Koby Anderson 1 0-0 3, Tanner McNeil 0 0-0 0, Clayten White 0 1-2 1, TOTALS 30 FG, 16-26 FT, 82 TP.
RED HILL (66)
Drayden Pentell 2 0-0 5, Jacob Powden 9 2-3 24, Hayden Arbuckle 5 2-2 17, Avery Arbuckle 3 1-1 8, Ozzy Ash 6 0-0 12, Lance Moore 0 0-0 0, Isaiah Stitt 0 0-0 0, Colin Laakman 0 0-0 0, Blake Davis 0 0-0 0, Reece Ralston 0 0-0 0, TOTALS 25 FG, 5-6 FT, 66 TP.
3-point goals - Jo. Durham 3, Smith 2, Anderson, H. Arbuckle 5, Powden 4, Pentell, A. Arbuckle.
Team fouls - WCHS 8, RHHS 16. Fouled out - Moore. Technical foul - none.
