Falcons and Gophers Get Nippy

On a frigid January night, basketball games between Fillmore Central and Chatfield each had one school narrowly beating, poetically nipping, the other. The Falcon boys were hot early, making seven straight and 10 of 12 field goals for a 34-24 halftime lead. With 5:48 left, Bennett Gathje hit a three to give the visiting Gophers their first lead (44-42) since very early (12-9). The lead then changed hands three times. Riley Means’ swooping lay-up put FC up 48-47 (1:07). Chatfield turned it over (0:19.7). FC missed two intentional foul free throws. Samuel Peters hit two regular freebies (50-47). In the final 12.5, the Gophers diagrammed a play for Brandon Ebnet, ye of four three-point makes already. His three just rimmed out. FC topped Chatfield 50-47. Peters (12 pts), Means (10 pts, 3 stls), and Delton Sauer (8 pts, 10 rebs) led the Falcons. Alex Hompe was a machine for Chatfield (career-high 25 pts, 11-14 FGs). The 6’2” forward is averaging 18.2 PPG (61.7% FGs). Ebnet added 12 points (4-9 three’s). Seven other Gophers combined for 10 points (4-21 FGs). Five other Falcons combined for 20 points (9-24 FGs). FC is 1-3, 5-4. Chatfield is 1-4, 2-7. Meanwhile, 36 minutes didn’t contain the girls game. Falcon senior guard Tayah Barnes hit three three’s in the first five minutes, an omen, though the home Gophers (looking for win number one) led 19-15 at halftime. A 12-0 run early in the second put FC up 31-25. They led 43-36 late (1:20). A Megan Hopp three and Mariah Bell two cut it to 43-41 (0:37.3). A Falcon free throw made it 44-41 (0:19.5). Gopher junior Macy Pederson hit a huge corner three to tie the game (0:07). An FC desperation heave was then off, sending the game to overtime (44-all). There, Paige Bennett hit a three for the FC lead. Barnes hit 7 of 8 free throws. Chatfield had five turnovers. FC escaped with a 55-47 win. Barnes had a career-game (28 pts, 6-10 three’s, 8-11 FTs). Kenzie Broadwater was everywhere (8 pts, 5 rebs, 9 assists, 7 stls) while Kendyl Bennett (8 pts, 5 rebs, 4 stls) battled fouls and Chatfield’s defense. Pederson (17 pts, 5-11 three’s, 5 stls) had a career-game. Bell, a 5’7” senior forward, notched her fifth double-double (12 pts, 10 rebs). FC (3-3, 8-3) has won eight of nine. It is their first win over Chatfield since 2010 (Connor Nagle group). The Gophers (0-7, 0-12) had won eight straight in the series.