The Bushnell-Prairie City High School varsity boys basketball team battled its way into the win column on Dec. 11, defeating host West Central 58-57 in a non-conference contest at Biggsville.
B-PC improved to 1-6 on the season, while West Central slipped to 2-5.
The game featured a number of wild momentum swings early.
B-PC’s Cam Shinn scored the game’s first seven points, giving the Spartans the early lead.
West Central answered with a 9-0 run in taking the lead, only to see B-PC answer with an 10-0 run that helped the visitors grab a 19-11 advantage after the opening eight minutes.
Sam Deverell scored nine of West Central’s 11 points in the second period as the Heat narrowed the gap to 27-22 at halftime.
West Central scored 18 points in the third period, including 10-of-17 from the free throw line as the Heat grabbed a 40-38 lead heading into the final frame.
The contest remained tight down the stretch, but the Spartans maintained control, sinking 8-of-12 free throws in the final two minutes.
A late West Central 3-pointer closed the gap to 58-57. But West Central was out of timeouts and the clock ran out before the Spartans needed to inbound the ball.
All five B-PC starters scored in double figures, accounting for all 58 points.
De’Arion Ruffin-Thomas and Shinn topped B-PC with 14 points each. Connor Palm, Christian Graybill and Braylon Griffitts added 10 points apiece.
Deverall topped West Central with 22 points, while Graham Kelly added 12 for the Heat.
B-PC finished 22-of-33 from the free throw line, compared to 14-of-26 for West Central.
The JV contest saw West Central grab a 10-0 lead after the opening period on the way to a 41-30 victory.
The Heat led 21-6 at halftime and 31-18 entering the final quarter of play.
John Malda topped B-PC with nine points.
Thomas Anderson added seven points, followed by Alex Kohler with five points.
Dylan King had four points, while Charles Rudolph and Konnor Stewart chipped in two points apiece.
The Spartans are scheduled to return to action Wednesday, heading to Galva for non-conference play. On Saturday, the teams will head to Hartsburg to face Hartsburg-Emden in the final game before the holidays.
