The Keota Eagle Boys and Girls basketball teams grabbed a pair of wins on their home floor Saturday, hosting Hillcrest Academy in a non-conference doubleheader. The girls game went to the Eagles 48-41. Hillcrest led 10-4 early, but a 9-0 Eagle run late in the first gave them a lead they wouldn’t give up the rest of the night. Keota was on top 23-15 at half. The Eagles won the third 12-8 and led by more than 15 before a late Raven charge that included 18 fourth quarter points, 13 from Claire Withrow tightened things up. The Eagles outrebounded the Ravens 35-22, and had 13 team assists. The Ravens won the turnover battle 15-10. Emily Conger led Keota with 11 points, Ava Greiner scored 10 and Kimberly Clarahan led the floor game with seven boards and six assists. Conger and Clarahan talked with KCII Sports after the game about the win. They said, “I think things turned when we changed to man defense instead of zone. That helped us box out and control the ball. (On offense) we were spread out pretty well and Ava Greiner was having a pretty good night. She was just on fire! I think we were good with being patient and running the offense, making the right pass at the right time. I think we worked well together and were just all connecting.”
Hillcrest got 17 points, six boards and two assists each from Withrow and Malia Yoder. The Eagles are now 4-11 on the year, as the Ravens fall to 4-13.
In the nightcap, Keota took a close game early and ran away to a running clock and 71-35 win. Hillcrest was on top 15-13 after one, but Keota rolled from there, putting together a 13-1 run to close the half and take a 30-22 lead into the locker room. The Eagles won the third quarter 20-11 and put the Ravens through a five minute drought in the fourth, using a 21-2 sprint to slam the door on the win. The Eagles shot 50% on the night, made 17 free throws to just seven attempts for the Ravens, while winning the glass by 17, dishing out 12 assists and forcing 18 turnovers. Billie Kindred went double double with 18 points and 15 boards. Evan Vittetoe added 14 points and Cole Kindred 13. Billie Kindred talked with KCII Sports about the win. He said, “Physicality is everything. I can get rebounds because my teammates box out and pass me the ball so I can score. It’s fun to play down low when it’s physical. I like the physicality because I’m competitive but, running up and down the court, scoring quick, is pretty fun too. It was fun to see everyone come off the bench and contribute well too. Our press was able to press guys, trap them, force them to turn the ball over.”
Seth Ours and Rowan Miller each scored eight for Hillcrest. The No. 5 in Class 1A Eagles remain unbeaten at 16-0 while Hillcrest drops to 11-7.