Fans got their money’s worth when the Paton-Churdan boys team won its hoops season opener against Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton in Churdan Dec. 1. The Rockets were behind only once, after the first minute of play. They held a 15 point lead at the end of the first quarter, but the game was tied with just three minutes to play. Final score was 65-59.
Rocket sophomore Joe Towers led all scorers with 22 points. He was three of four from 3-point range and made three of eight free throws. Defensively, he had seven rebounds and two steals.
Senior Noah Juergensen scored 17 points and was three of four from the free throw line. He had 10 rebounds and three steals and he blocked three shots. Junior Chase Juergensen was close behind with 15 points including a 3-pointer and two of two free throw shooting. Chase had five rebounds and one steal.
Sophomore Jake Berns scored nine points, including a 3-pointer and four of five free throw shooting. He added three rebounds and two steals to the Rockets’ efforts. Senior Joe Thede scored two points.
The E/EH-K Spartans got off to a slow start. After scoring three points in the first minute of play, they scored only three more in the first quarter. The Rockets were ahead 21-6 at the end of the first quarter. The Spartans shortened gap to nine points in the second quarter and the score was 37-28 at halftime.
The Spartans made a game of it in the second half, with a run of 10 unanswered points. The Rockets put no points on the board from the 3:00 mark in the third quarter to the 6:00 mark in the fourth quarter. With six minutes to play in the game, the Rockets were ahead 51-50. E/EH-K tied the score at 54 with three minutes to play. In the next two minutes of play the Rockets scored eight points while the Spartans scored only two, for a score of 62-56 with one minute to play. Final score was 65-59.
The Rockets are 1-0 overall and in the Rolling Valley Activities Conference. The Rockets play West Harrison on the road Friday night.
