After starting their season 6-0, the Steelville Middle School seventh grade boys suffered their first loss of the season November 23 in St. James, where the Cardinals were swept by the Tigers. The seventh grade defeated Cuba on November 16.
The Cardinals hosted Cuba and split a pair of games with the Wildcats. The seventh grade won 44-16, but the eighth graders fell to Cuba 41-37.
The younger Cardinals had little trouble against Cuba. Steelville took a 24-3 lead in the opening quarter and never looked back. It was 31-6 at the half and 40-10 at the end of the third quarter before the Cardinals won it by 28 points.
Preston Griggs led the seventh grade with 12 points. Jacob Beers scored eight, Shawn Ryerson and Canaan Greer seven each, Caleb Earney six and Celeb Callahan and Brendan Bass two each. Beers led the squad with five rebounds, while Devin Diaz had four assists.
After falling to the Wildcats twice this season already, the eighth grade boys had a great shot to beat Cuba, but came up just a bit short. The Cardinals actually led most of the way. Steelville was up 5-3 after the opening quarter, 13-11 at the half and 24-23 headed into the fourth. The Wildcats, however, outscored the Cards 18-13 in the fourth to win by four.
Brandon Howdeshell led the eighth grade squad with 21 points. Adam Volner scored 14 and Levi Beel added two. Howdeshell also had four steals and four rebounds.
The Cardinals traveled to St. James on November 23 and dropped both games to the Tigers. The seventh grade lost 41-17 and the eighth grade fell 37-19.
The seventh graders had a tough time running their offense against the Tigers’ man-to-man defense. St. James grabbed a 12-6 lead in the opening quarter and led 27-8 at the half. It was 31-17 at the close of the third quarter before the Tigers won by 24.
Earney led Steelville with seven points. Griggs scored four, Diaz two, Ryerson two and Timothy Cottrell two. Earney and Beers had five rebounds each.
St. James was even more dominant in the eighth grade game. The Tigers went up 10-0 in the opening quarter before leading 24-6 at the half. It was 33-6 at the end of the third quarter as the Tigers went on to a 37-19 win.
Howdeshell led Steelville eight eight points. Beel scored six, Dylan Warden three and Volner two. Beel also had two steals, while Howdeshell had four rebounds.
The SMS boys will host Owensville at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. They will also play in Sullivan at 5:30 p.m. Monday and at Bourbon at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.