Randolph boys fall in Holiday Tournament action

RANDOLPH — The Randolph boys basketball team has dropped to 0-8, but not before making things entertaining right before New Year’s.

The Cardinals dropped the opener of their own tournament, 55-25 to Stuart, but then bounced back with a strong performance before losing a 42-38 heartbreaker to Winside last Thursday.

Against Stuart, the Cardinals were forced into 26 turnovers, but did see a bit of improvement in shooting (36 percent) but were beaten on the board 34-19.

“After the loss we spoke about our lack of effort at times as well as our poise in pressure situations needed to improve,” Randolph head coach Jim Hixson said.

Tom Korth (eight points) and Jacob Calder (seven points) led Randolph against Stuart.

Against Winside, the team improved with its best point total of the year and led late in contest before falling.

“We set goals of 40 points and scored 38 and we wanted to hold their best player under 15 points and he had 13,” Hixson said. “We had a goal to be under 20 turnovers and we had 20. We also set a goal to win the rebounding margin and We tied them with 19 rebounds. I told the team that if we match those goals were would be in the ball game and we were just that.

“It was a pressure packed 4th quarter. We did some really good things.”

Jacob Calder hit a late three that kept Randolph in contention before Winside found a way to win.

Collyn Beal (16 points) and Calder (13 points and 11 steals) led the Cardinals.

“Jake Harder got his first start of the season an worked his tail off to hold down their big guy inside,” Hixson said. “He did a really nice job. We have not been in very many close games and with our limited experience we had a few errors, but I told the team I was proud of their effort and poise late in the game which was a focus after our first-round loss.”

Harder said the loss against Winside was an “experience” for the Cardinals and not having been in a lot of close games may have hurt them down the stretch.

“We hadn’t had a lot of chances like this: We were all nervous and we didn’t all know what to do,” Harder said. “It was both being physically and mentally tired, but more mental than all of us. We tried to staying focus and the crowd was yelling and everybody is going wild.

“We’re not happy: We should have worked harder to win against Winside. At the start of the game, we have to get up and go. We are slow when games get started.”

Hixson will look for more effort and poise as the season moves along with Thursday’s home game against Elkhorn Valley and Friday’s trip to Creighton.

“It will be a week filled with tough games, but will also give us a chance to gauge our improvement,” Hixson said. Stuart 20 8 19 8 — 55 Randolph 4 4 5 12 — 25

SCORING Randolph – Tom Korth, 8; Jacob Calder, 7; Collyn Beal, 2; Bryson Eledge, 2; Jake Harder, 2; Brayden Shearer, 2; Dayton Winkelbauer, 2. Stuart – Anthony Heiser, 19; Schyuler Mustin, 15; Ryan Steinhauser, 13; Cameron Sattler, 4; Tyson Stracke, 4.

REBOUNDS Randolph – Tom Korth, 6; Jake Harder, 4; Jacob Calder, 2; Bryson Eledge, 2; Brayden Shearer, 2; Shaw Becker, 1; Collyn Beal, 1; Isaiah Salmon, 1. Stuart – Anthony Heiser, 8; Schyuler Mustin, 7; Camerson Sattler, 3; Ryan Steinhauser, 3; Ben Paxton, 2; Hunter Tubbs, 2; Will Paxton, 1; Tyson Stracke, 1; Blake Wallinger, 1.

ASSISTS Randolph – Shaw Becker, 1; Collyn Beal, 1. Stuart – Anthony Heiser, 4; Cameron Sattler, 4; Ryan Steinhauser, 2; Ben Paxton, 1.

STEALS Randolph – Jacob Calder, 2; Bryson Eledge, 1. Stuart – Anthony Heiser, 5; Ryan Steinhauser, 5; Schyuler Mustin, 4; Camerson Sattler, 3; Tyson Stracke, 1; Blake Wallinger, 1.

BLOCKS Randolph – Tom Korth, 4; Jake Harder, 3; Jacob Calder, 1; Collyn Beal, 1. Stuart – Schyuler Mustin, 1; Hunter Tubbs, 1.

Winside 9 11 7 15 — 42

Randolph 5 12 14 7 — 38

SCORING Randolph – Collyn Beal, 16; Jacob Calder, 13; Tom Korth, 5; Jake Harder, 4.

REBOUNDS Randolph – Isaiah Salmon, 7; Tom Korth, 5; Collyn Beal, 2; Jacob Calder, 2; Jake Harder, 2; Brayden Shearer, 1.

ASSISTS Randolph – Collyn Beal, 2; Tom Korth, 2; Jacob Calder, 1; Isaiah Salmon, 1.

STEALS Randolph – Jacob Calder, 11; Jake Harder, 3; Collyn Beal, 2; Tom Korth, 1; Brayden Shearer, 1.

BLOCKS Randolph – Jake Harder, 1; Tom Korth, 1.