Eagles, Lady Eagles fall to Crocker in respective district hoops openers

By Will Johnson, Sports Editor
Posted 3/1/23

RICHLAND — Open districts with an upset.

That was on the minds of Chandler Harker’s sixth-seeded Vienna Eagles in first-round action against the third-seeded Crocker Lions during …

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Eagles, Lady Eagles fall to Crocker in respective district hoops openers

Posted

RICHLAND — Open districts with an upset.

That was on the minds of Chandler Harker’s sixth-seeded Vienna Eagles in first-round action against the third-seeded Crocker Lions during first-round action at the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 2, District 9 Boys Basketball Tournament hosted by Richland High School.

Trailing throughout the entirety of the first three quarters, Vienna took their first lead of the game at 36-35 on a Sam Rowden free throw with 33.3 ticks remaining.

Crocker’s Adam Newton answered by hitting two free throws with 14.7 remaining  giving the Lions a 37-36 lead.

Unable to get a shot off in the final seconds, Vienna saw their season end at 9-18 following their one-point loss last Monday night.

“I’m proud of how our guys kept battling even though they trailed most of the game,” Harker said.

Nearly shut out in the first quarter, Gabe Kleffner hit a bucket with 2:20 for the opening period leaving the Eagles trailing 7-2 after eight minutes.

Trailing 15-6 midway through the second quarter, Vienna saw Newton score Crocker’s next eight points helping the Lions to a 23-8 halftime lead.

Gavin Schwartze led the Eagles with four first-half points.

Third-quarter action saw the Eagles rattle off 13 unanswered points cutting Crocker’s lead to 23-21 with 3:18 for the quarter capped by a pair of Cash Stricklan buckets.

Down 29-25 entering the fourth quarter, Vienna trailed 35-30 with 4:35 left before making one last run.

Stricklan hit a 3-pointer with 3:25 left trimming the deficit to two points at 35-33.

Nearly a minute later, Schwartze tied the game at 35-35 on a bucket with 2:27 remaining.

Only able to hit one of four free-throw attempts in the final 1:57, Vienna saw their bid at a first-round upset come up one point short.

Stricklan led the Eagles with 16 points, three rebounds and three steals followed by eight points apiece from Duncan Wilkinson and Schwartze.

Wilkinson added four rebounds, three steals, two blocked shots and an assist.

Kleffner chipped in three points and four rebounds while Sam Rowden rounded out the Eagle scoring with one point, seven rebounds, four blocks, two steals and two assists.

Newton led Crocker with 25 points and nine rebounds.

Kevin Schwartze’s Lady Eagles saw their season end last Tuesday in C2D9 first-round action at Laquey following a 65-33 loss to Crocker.

Aubrey Schwartze led Vienna with a double double of 12 points and 16 rebounds.

Madison Weeks added nine points followed closely with eight points from Jaedyn Schell.