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ORIENT — Both Orient-Macksburg girls and boys basketball teams fell in the first round of Bluegrass Conference tournament action Saturday in Orient.
Boys game
After defeating Seymour 70-67 just a night before in Orient, the Bulldog boys could not overcome issues and the play of Justin Jewett and his 35 points (21 in the second half) as they fell 68-56 to Seymour.
When Orient-Macksburg quickened the pace in the second quarter, the Bulldogs saw positive results, with Dylan Nichols and Triston Davidson both making multiple transition buckets.
“Tristan has played well, he’s played well the last two games," Orient-Macksburg coach Michael West said. "... What got him going was attacking the offensive glass.”
Orient-Macksburg led 37-33 after the first two quarters.
With Seymour no longer playing a full-court press in the second half, the Bulldogs struggled with foul trouble for Dylan and Noah Nichols. Orient-Macksburg was not able to replicate the second quarter offensive success and succumbed by giving up a late run to the Warriors.
"They were going full court and stopped and went half court," West said. "They stopped and set up a little more, that hurt as as far as pushing it as much as we like to.”
After a Carson Thompson jumper put the Bulldogs up 46-41 in the third quarter, the Warriors went on an 8-0 run to end the period.
In the fourth, Seymour responded to an Owen Hensley bucket with several of its own. Davidson and Dylan Nichols scored the next four, but Noah Wells and Ty Campbell scored buckets.
After a Dylan Nichols steal and layup, Noah Nichols picked yo his fifth foul, and from that point forward, Seymour picked up stops and hit its free throws to secure the win. Dylan Nichols scored 21 and Noah had seven.
UP NEXT — The Orient-Macksburg boys (5-10) will host a consolation game in the tournament against Moulton-Udell, who they own a 55-53 victory over,
Girls game
The girls team fell 49-21 to Mormon Trail.
Mormon Trail jumped out to a 16-2 lead after a quarter and a 30-5 lead at halftime and played the whole game with a comfortable advantage.
Kaela Eslinger led the way with nine points and Brooklyn Sammons scored seven points as the young Bulldogs struggled to score to start the game.Hailey Johnson (3) and Katie Walter (2) also scored for the Bulldogs.
West, who is the assistant coach for the girl's team, believes he's seeing many of the younger girls on the team better themselves.
“They’ve improved," West said. "They’re still doing freshman-like things. You’d like for that to disappear as much as possible.”
“All-in-all, they’re getting better.”
Mormon Trail's Payton Gwinn notched 24 to lead all scorers.
The Bulldog girls will travel to Twin Cedars Tuesday for a consolation game.
Boys game summary
Sey: Scoring — Justin Jewett 35, Noah Wells 12, Joshua Brown 9, Travis Enright 6, Ty Campbell 4, Prestyn Lawson 2. 3-pt goals — 4 (Justin Jewett 3) Team fouls —14 . Fouled out — None.
OM: Scoring — Dylan Nichols 21, Triston Davidson 12, Noah Nichols 7, Owen Hensley 6,Carson Thompson 5, Keaton Wambold 3, Dylan Holste 2. 3-pt goals — 4 (4 with one). Team fouls —14. Fouled out — Dylan Nichols, Noah Nichols.
Sey (68) 14 19 16 19
OM (56) 12 25 9 10