Shooting woes give Linn boys 0-3 start

RANDOLPH – The Linn boys competed in all of their games in the Blue Valley pre-season basketball tournament on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but fell behind late in their first two games and early in their final game to go 0-3.

Bulldogs fall by one to Rams

RANDOLPH – After a slow start, the Linn Bulldogs’ offense took off in the second quarter, where they scored 21 points to take the lead, mostly behind the 16 points by senior Keaton Bargman. But it was a tale of ups and downs, and the team again struggle in the third, allowing Blue Valley to regain the lead.

In the fourth, Trent Beier hit three 3-pointers up high, including one at the four-minute mark to take a 42-41 lead. Blue Valley responded with a 2-pointer plus a free throw to go up 44-42, before Eli Thalmann made two free throws to tie it up at 44-44.

Blue Valley again had a 2-pointer plus a free throw to make it 47-44 and Thalmann again responded with a bank shot to come within one.

Back and forth again, but Blue Valley was able to continue to keep their edge and they won 52-51. Beier led the Bulldogs with 18 points.

Linn 5 21 5 20 51

Blue Valley 10 13 14 15 52

Points – Beier 22, Bargman 16, Thalmann 8, Ayala 3, Gv. Turk 2.

Rebounds – Beier 11, Bargman 8, Gv. Turk 4, Thalmann 3, Ayala 2, Gn. Turk 1.

Assists – Gv. Turk 6, Beier 5, Thalmann 2.

Steals – Beier 3, Ayala 2, Ruacho 2, Bargman 1, Thalmann 1.

Blocks – Bargman 2, Gv. Turk 1.

Linn offense goes cold against Onaga

ONAGA – The Linn boys came out strong against Onaga on the second night of the Blue Valley preseason basketball tournament, which was held at Onaga to keep teams distanced as a COVID precaution. They went up 12-5 after the first quarter, but struggled to score in the second, holding a 16-9 lead.

Onaga found their offense in the third quarter and Linn lost it, scoring just eight points. Then with almost nothing falling in the fourth (the team shot under 20% in the game, though they went 13/16 from the free throw line) the boys lost 29-41.

Linn 12 4 8 5 29

Onaga 5 4 14 18 41

Points – Beier 11, Bargman 8, Thalmann 4, Gv. Turk 3, Ruacho 3.

Rebounds – Thalmann 10, Beier 6, Gv. Turk 4, Ruacho 2, Bargman 1, Ayala 1, Isc. Rogge 1.

Assists – Ayala 1, Beier 1.

Steals – Beier 5, Ayala 4, Thalmann 2, Ruacho 1, Isa. Rogge 1.

Wetmore starts fast for win over Linn

RANDOLPH – Wetmore got off to a quick start against Linn with quick scoring and smothering defense during the final day of the Blue Valley preseason basketball tournament on Saturday at Randolph. They went up 15-6 after the first quarter and though Linn matched them in the second quarter. While they inched closer in the third for a while, Linn struggled to score baskets and lost by 20 points, 34-54.

Linn 6 12 8 8 34

Wetmore 15 12 12 15 54

Points – Beier 15, Bargman 10, Gv. Turk 4, Thalmann 3, Ayala 2.

Rebounds – Bargman 10, Beier 9, Gv. Turk 8, Thalmann 2, Ayala 2.

Assists – Bargman 1, Ruacho 1, Ayala 1, Beier 1.

Steals – Beier 2, Gv. Turk 2, Ayala 1.

Blocks – Bargman 1.