Bourbon High School’s boys basketball team played back-to-back nights on Dec. 16-17 against Newburg and New Haven, respectively. Bourbon lost the road matchup against Newburg convincingly before falling to New Haven at home. The Warhawks will have 10 days off for the holidays before playing their next game on Dec. 27 at Valley Park.

Dec. 16 vs. Newburg

The Winless Warhawks came into the matchup 0-8 against the 3-2 Newburg Wolves. Newburg controlled the game from the jump ball and led 37-14 after the first quarter. The Wolves didn’t let up and went into halftime up 56-22. Newburg’s lead continued to grow as the game went on, ending with a 88-42 final score over the Warhawks.

Eight Warhawks scored baskets for Bourbon. Owen Miller was the only Warhawk to score in double digits and poured in eight of his 10 total points in the first quarter. Andre Nixon scored eight, Garrett Wallis and Joseph Woods each added six and Chase Bouse scored all five of his points in the third quarter. Allan Studney scored three points in the first quarter and Bryar Stricklan and Tariq Moore each scored a basket in the second quarter.

The Warhawks quickly attempted to move past the decisive loss and hosted New Haven the following night.

Dec. 17 vs. New Haven

Bourbon hosted New Haven on Dec. 17 in their second home game of the season. New Haven also played the night before, and was walloped 67-22 by St. James. The Shamrocks bounced back against the young Warhawks, who started two freshmen, two sophomores and junior Owen Miller. Bourbon has been plagued by growing pains from its young roster this season which has led to issues with ball security.

Those issues continued against New Haven, who forced numerous Warhawk turnovers in the first quarter, leading to a 26-0 Shamrock lead at the end of the quarter. Bourbon scored 10 points in the second frame and 13 in the third, but couldn’t contain New Haven’s attack. The Shamrocks went on to rout the Warhawks 80-30 to win their second game of the season. Bourbon fell to 0-9 with the loss.

Dawson King topped the Warhawks score sheet, as he knocked down four shots from deep and a couple free throws to finish with 14 points. Miller drained a three-pointer and hit a trio of free throws to score six points. Moore scored a pair of second quarter baskets to finish with four points, Jonathan Poole hit a trey, Nixon scored two and Stricklan hit a free throw for his only point. Junior Weston Hecktor was on fire from beyond the three-point arc, as he knocked down eight treys and finished with a game-high 26 points.

Bourbon’s JV team put up a valiant effort against New Haven in the first matchup between the two teams and tied the game at 34 with a Bouse three-pointer in the fourth quarter. But the Shamrocks pulled away and came out on top with a 41-35 victory.