Saturday at the TVL Tournament was cut short due to the snowy weather, but some consolation games were still played in the morning. The first game saw the Onaga girls defeat Axtell 56-29 in the primary gym. Then in the secondary gym, the Onaga boys defeated Doniphan West in double overtime 64-52.

In the girls’ game, Onaga shut out Axtell in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Onaga’s offense came alive and went to the halftime break leading 24-8 and having surrendered just two field goals.

In the second half, head coach Craig Boswell was able to breathe easy as the Buffaloes held on to their large lead the whole way.

After the game I talked with Boswell about the team’s performance and he said, “I wish we played like that every game.”

Junior guard Brianna Bates led all scorers with 13 points making her the “Player to Bank On” brought to you by Farmers State Bank.

Junior Maria Krohn also had 12 for Onaga and sophomore Bridgett Campbell had nine.

For Axtell, no players scored in the double digits with junior Kaylee Sandmann leading the team with nine points.

The Buffaloes finish the tournament winning a pair of consolation games and Axtell goes home having not won any games.

For the boys’ game, Onaga would get out to a hot start with senior Zac Fisher scoring six first quarter points. Both offenses struggled in the second quarter, but Onaga’s was good enough to have a 19-12 lead at the half.

The offense would pick up dramatically in the third quarter with both teams making four threes. Three of Doniphan West’s long-range jumpers came from sophomore guard Cooper Eberly. Meanwhile, junior guard Konnor Nider made two for Onaga.

Onaga would be held to just five points in the fourth quarter which allowed the Mustangs to get back in the game. D-West’s Hudsen Penny made a clutch and-one in their final possession with 2:20 left.

Onaga used the remaining amount of time hoarding the ball until the final 7.5 seconds where they missed their final shot to force overtime.

Penny would come up clutch again for D-West in overtime. After Onaga had a two-possession lead for most of the period, the Mustangs would take advantage of some missed free throws by the Buffaloes. Penny would make a step back three at the buzzer to extend the game into double overtime.

However, Onaga wouldn’t squander their lead in double OT as Fisher would make five free throws and Nider would make four as the Buffaloes would score 15 points to win the game handily.

Fisher would lead Onaga in scoring with 22 points and nine in the overtimes which earns him the honor of “Player to Bank On” by Farmers State Bank. Nider would also finish with 16 points.

Penny led Doniphan West in points with 16 and Eberly ended up with 13.

Onaga would end up with two wins in consolation games, and Doniphan West finishes the tournament with none.

The rest of the tournament will resume on Monday.

Coverage of the TVL Tournament has been made possible by Highland Community College, Bendena State Bank/Bank of Highland, SBS Insurance, M & R Auto Parts, Blue Valley Technologies, Koch and Co., Wanklyn Oil Company, Elmers Repair and Supply, First National Bank Frankfort, Hilltop Creations, and B and D Buildings.