Van-Far boys warm court with 56-55 win over Bowling Green

For their fourth straight victory, it wasn’t easy for the Van-Far boys on Friday. 

The Indians won their Courtwarming game after Kaleb Baskett hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left to beat Eastern Missouri Conference foe Bowling Green 56-55. 

After leading 22-8 after the first quarter, Van-Far (9-4, 3-2 EMO) led 32-24 at halftime and then led by only three points heading into the fourth quarter. 

Pacey Reading led Van-Far with 21 points and eight rebounds, Bryce Reading had 12 points, Gaven Gaston finished with 11 points and eight rebounds despite hurting his ankle in the third quarter, and Baskett had 10 points. 

“They were really focusing on Pacey and trying to deny him the ball and we had kids step up and take big shots,” head coach Pat Connaway said. “Bryce and Kaleb both hit big threes in the fourth to either give us back the lead or keep the small lead we had and Gaven had a big basket in the fourth as well.”

Connaway said Bowling Green (9-4, 3-1 EMO) took a defender off Baskett to double team Pacey Reading and then Reading dished to Baskett for the game-winning 3-pointer in the corner. Bowling Green had no timeouts left but managed to send a desperation heave off the backboard to rattle out of the rim. 

“I have always told the kids, if you want to succeed, you have to be willing to fail and Kaleb had that courage and our team was rewarded,” Connaway said. “Equally important was Pacey's confidence to pass the ball to his open teammate with the game on the line.”

Van-Far girls break 3-game losing streak with 41-21 win over Bowling Green

With a shortened roster, the Van-Far girls had enough to snap a losing streak.

The Lady Indians won for the first time in four games with a 41-21 victory over Eastern Missouri Conference foe Bowling Green (3-12, 1-3 EMO) at home for Courtwarming. 

Head coach Heather Minter said Van-Far (5-7, 2-3 EMO) lost Khloe Wallace three days prior in a 46-35 loss at home to South Shelby. However, Minter said Mylee Keller stepped up with 11 points. 

Chloe Zumwalt led Van-Far with 17 points and eight rebounds off the bench, Elliott Utterback had seven points, Kenya Jones had five assists and five rebounds, and Trinity Skwirtz finished with seven rebounds and four steals.

The Indians and Lady Indians each play this week in the Tony Lenzini tournament in Palmyra.