Sheldon sweeps Bronaugh

Bronaugh's Ruger Cox stops Sheldon's Taylor Belew from scoring a layup, but was called for a foul on the play.

By Jason Peake

Daily Mail Sports Editor

BRONAUGH--Sheldon's depth and post play proved to be the difference in a 69-58 win over host Bronaugh on Tuesday night in a small-school boys clash.

Sheldon's Dustin Rhoades and Bronaugh's Ty Cliffman battle for a rebound on Tuesday night.

The Panthers held a double-digit lead early in the game, but had to hold off the scrappy Wildcats late.

Sheldon's depth played a big role, as host Bronaugh seemed to run out of steam. Also, a huge rebounding edge allowed the Panthers second and third chances, as well as a few more hoops in transition.

"We didn't play very well," Sheldon Coach Tyler Judd said despite the win. "I don't think we played the way we're capable of playing. Fortunately, they kind of ran out of gas. We were quite a bit deeper than they were."

Bronaugh's Nick Hoye crashes into Sheldon's Reed Worsley on Tuesday night.

Sheldon led 14-4 right away and extended the lead to 35-24 by halftime. But Bronaugh went on a 9-0 run in the third quarter to cut Sheldon's lead to 38-34. The Wildcats refused to go away, staying within striking distance.

"We couldn't get stops and we fouled too much," Judd said. "We got into foul trouble. We just have to be better all the way around."

But a big swing in momentum came at the end of the third period when Sheldon's Eric Leavell hit a three-pointer just before the buzzer to give his team a 45-37 advantage.

Sheldon's Erica Conner knocks the ball away from Bronaugh's Haley Ussery on Tuesday night.

The Panthers got a couple of putbacks inside early in the fourth and then made enough free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

The game was not a pretty one. Fouls, fouls and more fouls were called, as both teams attempted to press the other into mistakes. For the game, the two teams combined to shoot 67 free throws.

There were also plenty of turnovers. But in the end, the Panthers did more than enough to get the win.

Judd said he was pleased with the post play of Dustin Rhoades and Corey Baney inside.

"We controlled the glass, and I thought that was the difference in the game," Judd said.

A sophomore, Baney scored 17 points for the Panthers. Rhoades scored 15, Tra Hart added 14 and Leavell chipped in 12.

Bronaugh junior Patrick Hallam scored a game-high 21 points. Chance Wait added 12 and Tyler Murphy scored 10.

Sheldon improves to 4-1 on the season with the win. The Panthers head to Fair Play on Friday.

Bronaugh (1-4) hosts Hume on Friday night.

Sheldon girls win, too

Alesha Laning scored 14 points to lead the Sheldon girls past Bronaugh 36-27. Panthers teammate Erica Conner also reached double figures with 11.

The game was close most of the way, but the Panthers pushed the lead to double digits when Laning scored back-to-back hoops inside early in the fourth quarter.

Raeann Mader, BreAnna Householder and Haley Ussery scored six points apiece to lead the Wildcats.

Sheldon girls 36, Bronaugh 27

SH 8 4 11 13 -- 36

BR 5 6 7 9 -- 27

Sheldon: E. Conner 11, A. Laning 14, C. Conner 4, Rawlings 6, Shelton 1, Claflin 0.

Bronaugh: Mader 6, Householder 6, Ussery 6, Hartman 4, Shaw 1, Campos 2, Arens 2, Moore 0.

Sheldon boys 69, Bronaugh 58

SH 16 19 10 24 -- 69

BR 9 15 13 21 -- 58

Sheldon: Rhoades 15, Baney 17, Seibert 7, Leavell 12, Hart 14, Belew 2.

Bronaugh: Murphy 10, Hallam 21, Wait 12, Willis 3, Hudson 7, Cox 4.