Errors take toll on Vikes in loss

Community's Cody Pierce and Van Buren County's Sheldon Hitchcock battle to pull down a rebound on Friday night in Spencer. (T-G Photo by Jimmy Jones) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

SPENCER -- Poor shooting and turnovers continue to plague the Community Vikings as they suffered an embarrassing 70-60 District 9-A basketball loss at Van Buren County Friday night, wasting double-digit scoring efforts by Lance Paschal, Zach Haynes and David Natale.

"I thought we had the makings of a pretty good defensive team, but we sure didn't show it tonight," Viking coach Jace Bryant said. "We couldn't guard anybody in this game.

"As much as I hate to even use the term zone, it looks like we are going to have to learn to play it."

The Eagles came out shooting and lit up the scoreboard with four shots from beyond the arc to lead 17-11 as the second quarter approached.

The Vikings (4-3, 1-2 9-A) picked up the pace offensively in the second frame as they scored four 3-pointers, two by Paschal, but were unable to stop the Eagles on the other side of the court and foound themselves down 38-30 at intermission.

Matthew Rigsby went over, around and through the Vikings to account for 14 points in the fourth period to nail down the win for the home team and insure that the long bus ride home would be one spent in deep thought for 15 young men who have a very short time to turn their season around.

"We are going to keep working hard, I promise you that," Bryant said. "Simply put, the hard work has to start showing up on the court in a real big hurry."

Rigsby gained game-high scoring honors with 27 points. He was joined by Ethan Hillis with 10.

Natale scored 12 and Paschal and Haynes had 11 apiece to pace the Vikings.

Community welcomes Santa Fe Monday night.