Mahomet-Seymour junior high boys’ basketball and volleyball recaps
By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com
With balanced scoring continuing to be a bonus, the Mahomet-Seymour seventh-grade boys’ basketball team extended its winning ways with three victories by margins of nine, or fewer, points.
The team’s winning streak was at 17 games before Thursday’s 40-35 loss to Champaign Jefferson. The seventh-graders are 17-3 overall and the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Class 4A IESA regional.
Last week in wins over Bloomington (32-23) and Champaign Franklin (48-44), Trey Peters was the top M-S scorer with 15 points in each contest.
Against Bloomington, Lucas Dyer scored six points, Reis Claybrook had five and Ray Long four.
Against Franklin, Nate Hale hit seven points, Gavin Hammerschmidt added six and Long matched that with six points of his own. Dyer totaled four points and Braden Garrett chipped in with three points.
On Monday, Dyer led the way for the third time in the past seven games, finishing with 10 points. Claybrook was right behind with nine points and Henry Wagner tallied four points.
M-S eighth-grade Boys’ basketball
The young Bulldogs (10-10) snapped an eight-game losing streak on Monday with its top defensive effort of the season, overpowering Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 51-11.
The team’s previous best defensive performance came in a 61-13 triumph over Paxton-Buckley-Loda.
Cade Starrick tallied 12 points vs. GCMS and Jack Gallier ended with 11 points
Last week, the eighth-graders were beaten by Bloomington (49-38) and Champaign Franklin (40-29).
Braden Pagel hit 12 and Starrick 10 against Bloomington. Pagel netted 11 and Gallier 10 against Franklin.
In Thursday night’s 50-44 loss to Champaign Jefferson, Gallier and Starrick each made 15 points and Pagel ended with eight.
M-S Junior High Volleyball
M-S opened its season at home on Monday with both the seventh-and eighth-grade teams securing sweeps over Mount Zion.
The seventh-graders prevailed 25-20, 25-18. In the second set, the Bulldogs needed to rally after falling behind 9-6.
The eighth-graders were triumphant 25-10, 25-23, securing the second-set victory by scoring the final two points. In the first set, M-S built a quick 8-0 lead.
On Wednesday, both M-S squads dropped decisions at home to Normal Kingsley.
The seventh-graders fell behind 10-1 in the opening set and couldn’t get closer than seven points thereafter, suffering a 25-10 setback. Kingsley completed the sweep with a 25-14 triumph in the second set.
The eighth-grade team lost by identical 25-11, 25-11 scores.
Both squads played their third match in four days on Thursday at home.
The seventh-graders (2-1) collected a thrilling two-set triumph over Normal Chiddix, 25-23, 25-14.
The first set featured nine lead changes and five ties before the Bulldogs broke the last tie by scoring the last two points.
The eighth-grade team (1-2) dropped a 25-14, 25-10 decision to Chiddix.
Both squads are scheduled to return to action on Saturday in the Lincoln Junior High Showcase, and will play at home again on Tuesday against Urbana Middle School.
