BOURBON — After two days of scheduled games were postponed due to the inclement weather, the Bourbon High School boys basketball team finally returned to action on Dec. 3 in the first round of the Valley Tournament against West County. 

The Warhawks lost all three games in the tournament, as they fell to West County on Dec. 3, Marquand-Zion on Dec. 4 and Bismarck on Dec. 6. Bourbon (0-5) continued their stretch of games on the road and played in Richland on Dec. 9, which will be detailed in next week’s edition. The Warhawks will travel to Chamois on Dec. 12 and compete in Newburg on Dec. 16 before playing their next home game on Dec. 17 against New Haven.

Dec. 3 vs. West County

The Warhawks were outplayed from tip-off against a mighty West County team, who handedly defeated Bourbon 85-21. West County was dominant throughout and led 33-6 after the first quarter and 53-8 at halftime. 

Bourbon was led by Garrett Wallis who scored five points on a three-pointer and two free throws. Andre Nixon and Dawson King scored four, Owen Miller and Tariq Moore chipped in three and Johnathan Poole scored two. Wyatt Scherffius scored 12 and Wyatt Simily added 10 for West County.

Dec. 4 vs. Marquand-Zion

The Warhawks found themselves in another tough match up against the Marquand-Zion Tigers.

Bourbon was in the game early and found themselves in a high scoring first quarter in which Marquand poured in 22 points and the Warhawks scored 11. But the Warhawks couldn’t keep up with the high powered Tigers who scored 25 in the second quarter to pull away and make it a 47-21 game at halftime. The Warhawks scored 16 points in the second half while Marquand added another 39, leading to a 86-37 Tiger victory.

Bourbon was led by Miller, who scored a season-high 15 points on three close shots, three free throws and one shot from long distance. King added 14 points on four shots from behind the three-point line and one two-pointer. Nixon chipped in four points and Moore and Woods scored two apiece. The Tigers were led by Hayden Holfe and Justin Dees who poured in 34 and 24 points, respectively.

Dec. 5 vs. Bismarck

Bourbon was in a close game against a Bismarck team that the Warhawks lost to in their Nov. 21 season opener. The early stages of the game were competitive and Bourbon trailed 11-9 after a back-and-forth first quarter. But the Indians found their rhythm in the second quarter and outscored the Warhawks 24-13 in the frame to make it a 35-22 game at halftime. Bourbon scored a respectable 13 points in the third frame, but couldn’t contain Bismarck who scored 18 in the period to build its lead up to 17 after three quarters. The Warhawks offense faltered in the fourth quarter as Bourbon scored just four in the frame and eventually fell 69-39. 

The Warhawks were led by Nixon, who played his best game of the season so far, finishing with 16 points on five two-pointers and two shots from downtown. King continued his consistent season with nine points, Miller added six, Moore scored three, Woods chipped in two and Wallis knocked down a free throw to add one point.