HOWELLS – The Oakland-Craig and Howells-Dodge Boys and Girls Basketball Teams split their doubleheader in Howells on Saturday in action aired on 107.9 the Bull.
It was the Jaguars claiming the girls contest 48-29 and the Knights taking the boys game 57-48.
In the girls game, both teams struggled to get into an offensive rhythm early as both teams went about half the quarter without scoring a point. Howells-Dodge then hit a free throw and led 1-0 for a period of time in the 1st quarter. Eventually though Oakland-Craigs Sadie Nelson got the Knights going, scoring all 7 team points in the quarter to give the Knights a 7-6 advantage after one.
Both teams picked up the scoring in the 2nd quarter as the Jaguars put up 15 points, including 6 from Cassie Pieper, who had all 6 Howells-Dodge first quarter points, and scored 12 of her team-high 13 points in the 1st half.
Nelson hit a couple of baskets for Oakland-Craig in the 2nd quarter, scoring 12 of her game-high 14 points in the 1st half.
Howells-Dodge led 21-18 at halftime.
The Knights went cold in the 2nd half, only scoring 11 total points in the final 16 minutes, including just 4 in the 3rd quarter.
The Jaguars took advantage, outscoring Oakland-Craig 14-4 in the 3rd quarter to lead 35-22 after three, and 13-7 in the 4th quarter to make up the final score.
In addition to Piepers 13 points, Jaedyn Ratlzaff was also in double figures with 10 for Howells-Dodge.
The Jaguars improve to 3-2 on the season and take on West Point-Beemer on the road Tuesday night while the Knights fall to 1-3 and travel to Winnebago Tuesday night.
In the boys game, the Jaguars came out strong, going up 16-8 after the 1st quarter, and held a 19-8 lead early in the 2nd quarter.
The Knights then battled back and kept chipping away, eventually cutting the deficit to 3 at halftime, which saw Howells-Dodge lead 26-23.
Oakland-Craig eventually came back and took the lead, and found themselves up 38-32 at the end of three after outscoring the Jaguars 15-6 in the 3rd quarter.
The Knights then won the 4th quarter 19-16 to seal the win.
Oakland-Craig had balanced scoring as three players were in double figures, including 17 from Gunnar Ray, 16 from Caden Nelson, and 10 from Jaron Meyer.
Oakland-Craig Head Coach Aaron Meyer on the win.
Howells-Dodges Blake Sindelar led all scorers with 26 points while RJ Bayer added 17 as the two scored 43 of the teams 48 points.
The Jaguars fall to 1-4 on the season and take on West Point-Beemer on the road Tuesday night while the Knights improve to 3-2 and take a three-game winning streak into Winnebago Tuesday night.