Top-seeded Comets too much for Dutchmen

By Will Johnson, Sports Editor
Posted 1/5/22

Aggressive defense and a potent offense.

That combination proved to be too much for Cullen VanLeer’s Owensville Dutchmen Monday night in first-round action of the 33rd Owensville Varsity …

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Top-seeded Comets too much for Dutchmen

Posted

Aggressive defense and a potent offense.

That combination proved to be too much for Cullen VanLeer’s Owensville Dutchmen Monday night in first-round action of the 33rd Owensville Varsity Boys Basketball Tournament against the top-seeded Fatima Comets.

Leading 5-4 for a total of :16 on a Charlie Whelan 3-pointer at the 5:45 mark of the first quarter, OHS was outscored 42-23 the rest of the first half before eventually falling to Fatima 82-38.

Trailing 23-14 after one quarter, the Dutchmen doubled their point total while the Comets did the same leaving OHS on the wrong end of a 46-28 halftime score.

Still within striking distance going into the second half, Owensville could not overcome 21 unanswered points by Fatima to start the third quarter.

Held to five points in both the third and fourth quarters, the Dutchmen were sent to the consolation side of the bracket where they will face the loser of last night’s (Tuesday) showdown between Steelville and St. Clair tomorrow (Thursday) night at 6 p.m.

Nearly recording a double double in a losing cause, Bryce Payne led the Dutchmen with a team-high eight points while also pulling down a team-leading seven rebounds.

Layne Evans came off the bench to score all seven of his points in the second quarter for OHS.

Will Lauth and Landon Valley each added six points. Valley also recorded a team-high two blocked shots.

Brendan Decker kicked in five points while dishing out the lone assist for Owensville.

Austin Lowder added two points in addition to senior Bailey Wehmeyer hitting a fourth-quarter free throw for one point rounding out the OHS scoring against Fatima.

Nate Brandt led the top-seeded Comets with a game-high 22 points to go along with eight rebounds, four steals, three blocked shots and two assists.

Reigning Owensville Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) Lee Verslues added 17 points and seven steals while Cooper Kleffner made it a trio of Comets scoring in double digits with 13 points.

Jack Robertson netted seven points all in the second quarter to go along with the trio of Leo Peters, Ty Fortson and Nate Lehmen scoring six points apiece.

Fatima will await the winner of last night’s (Tuesday) Steelville-St. Clair showdown on Friday at 7:30 p.m.