Jr. Hornets Win Four Straight
By Brent Huelsmann
The Nashville Middle School Jr. Hornets boys basketball team has won their last four games as they defeated Chester, Woodlawn, Central City, and Murphysboro. The Jr. Hornets eighth grade team has a record of 9-3 on the season.
On November 20, the Jr. Hornets picked up a 55-8 win over Chester. The Jr. Hornets only led 8-4 after the first quarter of play, but quickly put the game out of reach. Nashville took control in the second as they outscored Chester 15-2 to take a 23-6 halftime lead. In the third, Nashville shut out Chester as they outscored Chester 21-0 in the frame. In the fourth, the Jr. Hornets cruised to the 55-8 win.
Nolan Heggemeier led Nashville with 11 points. Kolten Gajewski and Michael Combs each finished with eight points. Aaron Brink finished with seven points, followed by Hayden Robinson with six points. Saxton Hoepker and Bennett Briles each finished with four points, while Lucas Knepp, Rylan Hammer, Trey Reinburg all scored two points. Radyn Schwartzkopf rounded out the scoring with one point.
In the seventh grade game, the Jr. Hornets defeated Chester 49-29. Briles scored 25 points to lead the way. Hammer added nine points, while Reinburg scored six points. Carson Cook, Kaden Gajewski, Quintin Loquasto, and JT Malawy each had two points in the win. Aidan Heiman finished with one point.
The Jr. Hornets were back in action the next night as they took on Woodlawn on November 21. The Jr. Hornets led the whole way through as they defeated Woodlawn 60-14.
Nashville took a 14-6 in the first, and extended their lead to 31-11 at the halftime break. In the third, the Jr. Hornets outscored Woodlawn 20-2 in the third, and cruised in the fourth to a 60-14.
Nashville had three players in double figures in the win. Heggemeier led the way with 15 points, followed by Combs with 13 points. Kolten Gajewski was the last player in double figures with 12 points in the win. Robinson finished with nine points. Briles added five points, while Schwartzkopf finished with four points. Hoepker rounded out the scoring with two points.
In the seventh grade game, the Jr. Hornets defeated Woodlawn 40-15. Briles scored 10 points to lead Nashville, followed by Reinburg with eight points. Hammer added seven points, while Cook scored five points. Heiman and Malawy each finished with four points in the win. Kaden Gajewski finished with two points for Nashville.
On November 28, the Jr. Hornets were back on the court as they took on Central City. Nashville took a big lead in the first, and cruised to a 51-16 win over Central City.
After the first quarter, the Jr. Hornets held a 24-4 advantage, and extended their lead to 38-5 at the break. In the third quarter Nashville outscored Central City 9-3 to take a commanding 47-8 lead into the final stanza. In the fourth, the Jr. Hornets were outscored, but cruised to an easy win.
Combs led the Jr. Hornets with 18 points, followed by Heggemeier with 10 points. Brink and Kolten Gajewski each finished with six points, while Robinson finished with four points in the win. Knepp added three points, and Hoepker and Reinburg rounded out the scoring with two points apiece.
The seventh grade team doubled up Central City with a 34-17 win. Hammer and Malawy led the way with seven points apiece. Reinburg added six points, while Heiman and Blaine Emrick each finished with four points. Cook, Kaden Gajewski, and Silas Hill all scored two points in the win.
The Jr. Hornets wrapped up the month of November with a 43-35 win over Murphysboro on November 30. Nashville held a 10-9 lead after the first quarter of play, but Murphysboro battled back to take a 19-18 advantage at halftime. In the third, each team traded buckets, but Murphysboro still held a 28-27 lead with one quarter to play. In the fourth, Nashville was able to take the lead, and held on for a 43-35 win.
Kolten Gajewski led the Jr. Hornets with a 13 points in the win. Heggemeier and Brink were also in double figures with 11 points apiece in the win. Robinson and Combs rounded out the scoring with four points apiece.
In the seventh grade game, the Jr. Hornets fell 36-27. Briles led Nashville with 11 points. Hammer finished with five points, followed by Heiman with four points. Kaden Gajewski added three points, while Cook and Emrick finished with two points apiece.
