JV boys split pair of games

By Ryan Stonebraker
Sports Editor, Tipton Conservative

  The Tipton junior varsity basketball team split a pair of road games, winning 59-33 at Wilton on January 31 and falling to Monticello 49-43 on February 3. Their record now stands at 11-8 with two games left at Iowa City Regina and at Calamus-Wheatland.
  Luke Becker continued his torrid shooting at Wilton as he connected on five three pointers
on his way to 18 points. The Tigers made a total of nine three pointers in the game, including eight in the first half as they raced out to a 31-16 lead. Tipton then used a 17-10 scoring advantage in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
  Balanced scoring was the key to the Tigers success as Trent Pelzer (9) Connor Hermiston (8), Blake Wilkins (7), Jared Hightower (6), Elliot Cummins (6) and Bryce Deerberg (5) all contributed on the offensive end. Hermiston also had eight rebounds and two assists, Pelzer
added two assists and four steals and Wilkins grabbed five rebounds.
  On February 3, Tipton traveled to Monticello and outscored the Panthers in each of the first three quarters, leading 35-29 heading into the fourth quarter. The Tigers then went cold from the field and committed several costly turnovers, allowing Monticello to use a 20-8 fourth quarter advantage to hand the Tigers a 49-43 defeat.
  “It was just one of those games when we went cold and they got hot, making four three pointers in the final quarter,” said Tipton coach Gene Schroeder.
  Luke Becker once again led Tipton offensively as he collected 17 points on the night. Becker has now scored in double figures in each of the nine games since the holiday break. Only three other players scored for Tipton as Trent Pelzer also hit double figures with 12. Blake Wilkins chipped in with eight and Quinten Mesick had six. Mesick also had a great night rebounding with a total of nine while Pelzer had four assists and two steals.

Tipton 59, Wilton 33
January 31
At Wilton
1 2 3 4 Final
Tipton 19 12 17 11 59
Wilton 7 9 10 7 33
TIPTON (59): Trent Pelzer 4-9 0-1 9, Conner Hermiston 1-3 6-6 8, Jared Hightower 2-5 0-0 6, Bryce Deerberg 2-3 0-0 5, Colby Kleppe 0-0 0-0 0, Luke Becker 6-11 1-3 18, Blake Wilkins 1-1 5-7 7, Quinten Mesick 0-0 0-0 0, Andrew Comstock 0-1 0-0 0, Elliot Cummins 2-4 2-5 6. Totals: 18-36 14-22 59.
3-Pt. FG: 9-16 (Becker 5-8, Hightower 2-2, Deerberg 1-2, Pelzer 1-3, Hermiston 0-1). Rebounds: 23 (Hermiston 8, Wilkins 5, Mesick 3, Hightower 2, Pelzer 2, Becker 1, Comstock 1). Assists: 8 (Pelzer 2, Hermiston 2, Becker 2, Kleppe 1, Wilkins 1). Steals: 12 (Pelzer 4, Becker 2, Mesick 2, Cummins 2, Wilkins 1, Hermiston 1).

Monticello 49, Tipton 43
February 3
1 2 3 4 Final
Tipton 7 12 16 8 43
Monticello 6 11 12 20 49
TIPTON (43): Trent Pelzer 5-12 0-0 12, Conner Hermiston 0-6 0-0 0, Byce Deerberg 0-1 0-0 0, Luke Becker 6-11 2-2 17, Blake Wilkins 3-8 2-2 8, Quinten Mesick 3-5 0-0 6. Totals: 17-43 4-4 43.
3-Pt. FG: 5-14 (Becker 3-7, Pelzer 2-6, Hermiston
0-1). Rebounds: 27 (Mesick 9, Hermiston 5, Becker 5, Deerberg 4, Pelzer 2). Assists: 10 (Pelzer 4, Deerberg 2, Hermiston 1, Becker 1, Wilkins 1, Mesick 1). Steals: 6 (Pelzer 2, Wilkins 2, Deerberg 1, Hermiston 1).