Tigers 1-1 in last week's action

In contrast to a narrow Lake Region Conference boys varsity basketball loss at Northwestern earlier in the week the IHS boys would dominate the final quarter thus ensuring a 59-48 win over arch rival Warner in the Tiger Den last Thursday.

The Tigers would indeed end up outscoring the Monarchs 21-15 in the final quarter. Two  highlights in the final quarter had to be those consecutive treys by Chet Peterson that put the Tigers up 46-37. And believe it or not Peterson had opened Ipswich's fourth-stanza scoring with a basket from inside the trey arc to put Ipswich up 40-33 at that point of the game.

The score had been even at 9-9 at the end of the first quarter, thereby deciding nothing and Warner would actually own a two-point lead, 24-22 at intermission. But that second-half turn around by the Tigers would actually begin with a 16-9 third-quarter IHS scoring advantage. So the Tigers were definitely improving their second-half floor-shooting percentages already.

They would end up with 18 total baskets that featured eight treys and were able to convert 15 free throw tries. The visitors countered with 13 baskets that included seven treys and were 15-29 at the line.

Ipswich was led in scoring by Tyler Hettich with 15 points that included a par of treys. Next was Trevor Heinz with 13 points including one trey. Peterson totaled 11 points including a trio of treys. Ian Beyers scored seven points with one trey and Carter Geditz added six points. Next would be Blake Rich with four points and Jace Konsor added a trey for his three points.

The Monarchs were led by Brodey Saurwein with 15 points. And Hunter Cramer scored 14 points. Five more Monarchs would score.

Peterson captured seven of Ipswich's 21 rebounds. Unofficially the Tigers had only three turnovers and definitely more than offset them with 15 steals led by Beyers with six. The Tigers dished out four assists.

The Ipswich boys hosted Sully Buttes Tuesday, Jan. 10. Friday the boys will play Wilmot there. The boys and girls will host North Central on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

vs. Northwestern

Northwestern rallied for a 40-38 Lake Region Conference boys basket victory over Ipswich in a battle of the Wildcats vs. the Tigers last Tuesday, Jan. 3 in Mellette.

Northwestern kept its perfect record intact at that point in time. Things never come easy in the LRC in any sport. For instance Ipswich was indeed able to lead at each quarter stop, 14-7, 27-22 and 32-29, respectively.

But the hosts weren't quite ready to turn off the gym lights just yet and would outscore Ipswich 11-6 in the final stanza for a one-possession two-point win. They utilized a pair of double-figure scorers, led by running ace Lincoln Woodring with 12 points. Quintin Fischbach was next with 11 points, followed by Reilly Schmitt with seven counters. And three more Wildcats would enter their scoring column that evening.

Ipswich responded with a game-high 17 points by Trevor Heinz including a quartet of treys. Chet Peterson also got into double-figures with exactly 10 points. Ian Beyers and Blake Rich contributed four points each, followed by Tyler Hettich with two points and Carter Geditz a free throw.

Ipswich totaled 13 floor shots including those four treys and finished 8-14 in free throw opportunities. The hosts netted 16 total baskets including three treys and were 5-9 at the charity stripe.

Ipswich had 23 rebounds led by Geditz with six and the hosts countered with 25 rebounds led by Fischbach with 10 for an impressive double-double.

Ipswich sustained 23 turnovers, but offset them to a certain extent with 14 steals. They were led by Heinz with five thefts. Meanwhile, Northwestern ended up with 19 turnovers and 18 steals. Beyers dished out four of Ipswich's 10 assists and the hosts earned nine assists.