IHS Boys stop Miller in homecourt game

Ipswich upended Miller 61-45 in a non-conference boys high school varsity basketball game hosted by Ipswich on February 3 due to  that Miller School fire.

Ipswich never trailed vs. Miller and its largest lead would be by 21 points. But the visitors weren't quite ready to go home and staged a second-half rally, gradually shaving their deficit to only 10 points, 47-37. But Ipswich restored order down the stretch, starting with a Trevor Beyers basket and Taylor Thorson added another deuce before the visitors could get back on the scoreboard with a free throw.

Ipswich had opened the game with a 19-7 first-quarter lead and their initial double-figure lead was 17-7 after a guess who, yes Taylor Thorson basket. Ipswich would then lead 33-13 with yet another Thorson basket, this time from beyond the trey arc. So the Tigers would indeed own a 33-15 halftime edge. But Miller outscored Ipswich 16-14 in the third stanza and the final quarter would finally end up with both teams scoring 14 points.

Ipswich and all scorers for that matter were led by Taylor Thorson's 21 points featuring that crucial three-ball. Ian Beyers would also score in double-figures that night with exactly 10 points.

The Tigers' third highest scorer would prove to be Trevor Beyers with nine points and he included a trey.  Carter Geditz added seven points and he was followed by Ty Kadlec with a pair of three-balls for his six points. Zach Geditz scored four points and Carson Gohl and Colby Sylte each a deuce.

The visitors would obtain 11 points from Dylan Hass and 10 points by Trevor Werdel. And Caden Gortmaker would nearly obtain double-figure scoring status with his nine points. Two more Rustlers were able to score.

Ipswich finished with 23 baskets including those four treys and went 11-18 in free throw opportunities. The Rustlers made 18 total floor shots that included two treys and were 7-13 at the charity stripe.

Ipswich owned a narrow 34-33 rebounding edge with a balanced effort led by Taylor Thorson with seven rebounds and Ian Beyers with six. The Tigers and Miller would each incur 14 turnovers and each team also collected eight steals. Ipswich was led by Kadlec with four thefts.

Ipswich improved to 9-4 with its boys' victory over the Rustlers. Both the Tiger boys and girls were to host league foe Aberdeen Christian on February 8 in the Tiger Den. The Tiger boys will then travel to Sunshine Bible Academy on February 10 and only the boys will host Wilmot on February 12 in an afternoon make-up game. The Tiger boys will then play host to Hitchcock-Tulare on February 15.