Tough defense and success from long range were factors in South O’Brien’s 54-32 victory over West Sioux February 5 at Paullina. The Wolverines didn’t allow the visitors to make more that a quarter of their shots. Meanwhile, the nine three-point baskets for South O’Brien accounted for nearly a third of the team’s 28 field goals. This War Eagle Conference game had originally been scheduled for January 12 but was postponed due to the weather.
The Falcons put up 44 shots but made just 11 of them. They were 4-of-22 from beyond the arc and 6-of-11 at the free throw line. Overall, South O’Brien was 20-of-58 from the floor for 35 percent. The Wolverines also attempted 11 free throws and made five.
Leading the way offensively for South O’Brien were Ben Woodall with 13 points, Willie Conley with 12 and David Bottjen with nine. Woodall and Bottjen each drained three shots from long range. The home team also got seven points from Jaden Kreber, six from Derek Paulsen, three from Caden Wittrock and two each from Justice Frerk and Gabe Moermond. Paulsen supplied three assists while Woodall and Conley had two apiece.
Bottjen pulled down 12 rebounds and made three steals. Second in those categories were Conley with nine rebounds and Kreber with two steals. Paulsen recorded the only two blocked shots. West Sioux turned the ball over 14 times, the Wolverines only half that many.
W. Sioux
3 12 9 8 – 32
S. O’Brien
10 11 19 14 – 54