(RV) Bluejays soar past Panthers

BONDURANT – For the first four minutes of Monday night’s first round action, it appeared that Creston might stick around the 12th best offense in Class 3A as the Panthers trailed 14-10 with six of the points coming from two Ethan Crawford triples.

Bondurant-Farrar (15-7) found their momentum with three players scoring in double digits in the 75-32 win that ended Creston’s (7-15) season.

“Obviously not the way we wanted to finish off the year,” Creston head coach Bryce Schafer said. “Bondurant’s an extremely good team and I think they’re going to have a lot of success in the playoff.”

The Bluejays tripled up Creston’s scoring in the second quarter, 18-6, and the hosts went into halftime up 44-21.

“From an energy perspective I don’t think we really showed up past the first quarter when they implemented the press,” Schafer said. “I think we fell apart on turnovers.”

Bondurant-Farrar carried their momentum into the third quarter as they outscored Creston 14-7 which put them up 58-28.

The fourth quarter showcased more dominance from a team that is receiving votes in the Class 3A AP Poll.

Creston got within 28 points, 60-32, however, the Bluejays finished the game on a 15-0 run and will take on Pella (16-6) Thursday with the win.

“Just that I love them and I’m proud of them,” Schafer said on what was said in the post game locker room. “That’s not the way I wanted it to end for them. For the seniors I’m fine with losing to a good team like this, but getting blown out that way isn’t the way I want the program to be seen.”

Junior Ethan Crawford led the Creston scoring effort with eight points. Avery Fuller (senior), Kyle Strider (junior) and Tony Davidson (sophomore) trailed closely with six points each.

“I think we got a pretty full cupboard coming back,” Schafer said of the 2022-2023 Panther team.

Senior reflections

Derek Paup, Avery Fuller and Khalil Sherrod took to the hardwood for the final time wearing a Creston uniform Monday night.

The trio were part of Creston basketball all four years and are coach Schafer’s first four year group.

Fuller, who will play college football at Benedictine College, will study biology and pre-med.

“It’s disappointing we lost by over 40, not that way you want to go,” Fuller said.

Fuller’s favorite memories involve going on adventures with his teammates.

“Going on trips with the team, this year we went to Kansas City for Holiday Hoops, having fun downtown, it’s memories I will never forget,” Fuller said.

Fellow senior Khalil Sherrod finds a parallel to Fuller’s favorite memory in his own favorite memory.

“The trip down to KC was pretty fun,” Sherrod said. “Great bonding experience and a lot of great memories from that one for sure.”

Sherrod doesn’t expect basketball to be over for him, at least not yet.

“Hopefully looking to continue my career up at Graceland University,” Sherrod said.

Derek Paup, much like his teammate Avery Fuller, will be playing college football at a NAIA school.

Paup’s favorite Creston basketball memory came in a game he didn’t even play in.

“My freshman year when we beat Glenwood at Glenwood,” Paup said. “Even though I wasn’t on the court, the whole entire team celebrating after beating state champs the year before was one of the best memories for me.”

Bondurant-Farrar 75, Creston 32

CRESTON (32) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 13 2-6 32. Ethan Crawford 3 0-0 8, Kyle Strider 2 0-0 6, Avery Fuller 3 0-0 6, Tony Davidson 2 2-4 6, Patrick Varner 1 0-0 2, Cael Turner 1 0-2 2, Derek Paup, 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals — 4 (Crawford 2, Strider 2). Team fouls — 13. Fouled out — None.

BONDURANT-FARRAR (75) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 28 11-13 75. Jaxson Fried 7 1-1 16, Colby Collison 5 2-2 13, Titus Cram, 4 2-2 10, Garrett White 3 2-0 9, Carter Sanny 2 3-3 7, Nolan Meyer 2 0-0 4, Trey McDowell 1 0-0 3, Toby Berggren 1 0-0 3, Cam Barnett 1 0-0 3, Reed Pfaltzgraff 1 0-1 2, Levi Wendt 0 1-2 1. 3-point goals — 7 (McDowell 1, Collison 1, Fried 1, Lyle 1, Berggren 1, White 1, Barnett 1). Team fouls — 9. Fouled out — None.