Over the last half of January, Cullen VanLeer’s Owensville Dutchmen have seen basketball action in the state of Kansas along with close to home in contests against Cuba on the road and Salem at home.

After splitting two games in Kansas at the Frontenac Tournament, Owensville then posted a 60-39 victory over Cuba during a Highway 19 hoops showdown in Crawford County.

Going for three wins in four games, Owensville hosted Salem’s Tigers last Friday night in their first home game since the Maries County Bank Owensville Varsity Boys Basketball Tournament.

Down 19-13 after one quarter, Owensville was limited to six points in the second quarter while Salem put 14 on their side of the board leaving the Dutchmen staring at a 33-19 halftime deficit.

Unable to overcome a low-scoring second quarter, Owensville dropped a 64-46 decision to Salem in spite of a fourth consecutive double double from Brady Watson who finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

Chase Crosby also netted 11 of his team-high 17 points in the second half.

Keigan Glaser and Chase Weirich each kicked in six points while Wyatt Lewis rounded out the Dutchmen scoring against Salem with one point on a first-quarter free throw.

Owensville also went on to fall in the junior varsity and C-team games by final scores of 72-40 and 47-20 respectively.

Dutchmen at Cuba

Heading south into Crawford County, VanLeer’s Dutchmen looked to score a Highway 19 victory and help their cause in the district seed process with a road victory over Cuba’s Wildcats last Wednesday night.

Tied at 8-8 after one quarter, Owensville was able to double up Cuba 14-7 in the second quarter to go into halftime with a 22-15 lead before they were edged 20-19 by the Wildcats in the third quarter trimming their advantage to six at 41-35 entering the fourth quarter.

Holding the host Wildcats to four points over the final eight minutes, Owensville put up 19 points in the same timeframe helping them to a 60-39 road victory.

Crosby led three Dutchmen in double figures with a team-high 19 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

Watson kept his double-double streak alive finishing with 17 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.

Glaser rounded out the Dutchmen double-digit scoring trio with 12 points, four rebounds and two steals.

Bryce Kramme added a pair of 3-pointers for six points while Drew Chapman and Weirich both also hit a shot from beyond the 3-point arc for three points apiece.

Brayden Gipson led Cuba and all scorers with 21 points.

Owensville also won a 41-31 decision in the JV game behind 12 points from Kylen Menz and 10 points from Koen Brooks.

Charlie Katsov just missed making it a trio of double-digit trio finishing with eight points.

He was followed by Broden Kelley with seven points and two points apiece out of Ryder Wehmeyer and Wyatt Bone.

Dutchmen at Frontenac

Capping the third week of January in the Sunflower State during the Frontenac Tournament in Kansas, VanLeer’s Dutchmen split their two games in the weather-shortened event due to Winter Storm Fern with a 56-53 triumph over St. Mary’s-Colgan (Kan) and a 55-40 setback to Frontenac.

Crosby dropped a game-high 28 points and four assists against St. Mary’s while Watson recorded a double double of 14 points, 15 rebounds and five assists.

Weirich capped the Dutchmen scoring against St. Mary’s with 12 points and two assists.

During their 55-40 loss to the host school Frontenac, Watson showed the way with 10 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and five steals.

Crosby narrowly missed joining Watson in the double-double club with nine points and nine rebounds.

Glaser was also good for seven points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals while Kramme hit a fourth-quarter 3-pointer for three points and Lewis nailed a third-quarter bucket to account for his two points.

Owensville will return to action tonight (Wednesday) in a home game against Hallsville’s Indians that was recently added to the schedule before hosting Hermann’s Bearcats Friday night as part of a winter homecoming varsity doubleheader.