By Matt M. Stutz

The Pandora-Gilboa High School boy’s basketball team started the new year off right as they hosted Blanchard Valley Conference foe Vanlue on January 3. It was cold and snowy outside, but the Rockets got hot inside as three players combined to knock down twelve 3-pointers on their way to an easy 68-30 win.

P-G led from start to finish beginning with a Lane Lee 3-pointer. The Rockets flew out to a 23-6 first quarter lead and stretched it out to 45-13 at halftime. 

Sophomore Grady Kempf came off the bench early in the first quarter and proceeded to can four straight 3-pointers in the first half to set the tone.

The second half proved to be a bit of a snoozer as the two teams played to a 13-13 deadlock in the third quarter. P-G was up by 35 points in the 4th quarter to institute a running clock for over half of the final stanza and both benches cleared.

There was a balanced scoring attack from a trio of Rockets. Kempf led the way, nailing five total 3-pointers on the night for his game high 15 points. Lee and Cam Verhoff were right behind their teammate as they each poured in 14 points. Lee knocked in three 3-pointers on the night while Verhoff knocked down four 3-pointers total; making one in each of the four quarters.  

Jack Buell just missed double-figure scoring for P-G, dropping in a quiet 9 points. Cory Gerten tallied 7 points, Adam Buell hit four free throws for his 4 points, Austin Maag also notched 4 points, and Matt Maag hit two fourth quarter free throws for his 2 points.

JV team won 50-20.
 

P-G (5-4, 3-1 BVC, 0-1 PCL) will play at home on Monday night January 6 hosting PCL foe Miller City (8-1, 1-0 PCL).