GHV boys open season with two wins and a loss

The Garner-Hayfield/Ventura boys basketball team finished the week with a 2-1 record.

GHV 62, North Union 42

The Cardinals had an impressive opening to the 2013-14 season, dominating North Union, 62-42.

GHV jumped to an early 19-5 first quarter lead behind the hot hand of senior Joel Toppin.  By halftime, the Cards stretched the lead to 39-20.

The third quarter was still lopsided, with the Cardinals outscoring the Warriors, 18-10.  Foul trouble allowed the bench some good playing time, but North Union outscored GHV 12-5 in the final period.

“It was encouraging to see the boys build a comfortable lead.  However, we had many moments where we were in the wrong position and fouled our opponent,” said Coach Joe Albertson.

The coach praised the work of his bench, Luke Wolf, Adam Monson, Harley Forry and Jimmy Ermer.

Toppin led the team with 21 points, followed by Holden Hutcheson and Spencer Shaw with 10 and eight points respectively.  Rounding out the scoring was Logan Ryerson and Luke Wolf with six points apiece.  Adam Monson contributed five, Meints had four points and Forry contributed two points.

Meints led the team under the boards with 12 rebounds.  Luke Wolf and Ryerson had six rebounds apiece.  Ryerson also had four assists to lead the team.  Toppin, Ryerson, Monson, Meints, Forry and Zach Powers had one steal apiece.

West Fork 78, GHV 48

West Fork’s goal for Friday night’s matchup was to shut down GHV’s leading scorer, Joel Toppin.  Mission accomplished for the Warhawks.  A suffocating West Fork defense held Toppin to no field goals on nine attempts.  Toppin’s meager three points came on free throws.

The Cardinals tied the score late in the first quarter with the help of some buckets by Braden Meints.  That was, however, the only highlight in the otherwise lopsided contest.  By 

halftime West Fork led 32-19, on the way to the 78-48 victory.

“We struggled hitting shots and protecting the paint.  They beat us in every facet of the game,” said Coach Joe Albertson.  “Luke Wolf was one of the few players that found a way to score, as he scored 11 off the bench.”

Meints had a good game for the Cardinals, scoring 16 points and collecting 15 rebounds.  Luke Wolf scored 11 points and Adam Monson scored six.

Other rebounding leaders included Luke Wolf with eight boards and Jake Wolf grabbed six.  Harley Forry led the team in assists with five. 

GHV 71, North Butler 32

The Cardinals got back on track when they traveled to North Butler on Saturday, Dec. 7.

“I was concerned that a bad loss the night before would have a negative effect on our game,” said Coach Joe Albertson.  “And things didn’t look good early.”

The Cardinals struggled in the first quarter, with North Butler finding open shooters and knocking down shots. GHV trailed by six after the first quarter, 20-14.  Joel Toppin and Braden Meints started getting to the rim and hitting threes in the second quarter and the team went on a 24-6 run to take a 38-26 lead into the half.

A strong defensive effort by the Cardinals held the Bearcats to just six points in the second half for the final 71-32 victory.

“In the second half the guys kept pushing the ball and attacking the rim.  Equally impressive was the way the boys defended and rebounded in the last three quarters,” said Albertson.

Both Toppin and Meints hit double figures with 21 and 18 points respectively.  Luke Wolf had nine points, while Holden Hutcheson and Logan Ryerson had five points apiece.

Jake Wolf led the team in rebounding with 10.  Meints had nine rebounds.  Toppin had four steals, while Meints and Ryerson had three apiece.  Spencer Shaw led the team in assists with six. 

GHV takes on Belmond-Klemme on Friday, Dec. 13, in Belmond.  Game time is 7:30 p.m.