Edmunds County Tribune -

Ipswich and Warner split a girls/boys Lake Region Conference varsity twinbill on January 4 in Warner. The hosts would win the girls confrontation 53-18 but the Tiger boys would then outlast their hosts for a 55-45 victory. Tiger fans were never so happy for free throw opportunities.

Why is that? That's because the Morarchs had closed to within two possessions 48-42. However they needed to foul for possession and Ipswich would sink five of six free throw tries down the stretch to help restore some order. Trevor Heinz would make three of them in four tries, then Kyle Hettich two more.

The score was all even in the first quarter at 7-7 with a typical LRC defensive struggle. But Ipswich forged ahead 26-13 at intermission. The Tigers further improved their lead to 46-24 at the third-quarter break. But the janitors wouldn't need to turn off the lights quite yet. That's because the Monarchs would unleash a desperate final-quarter rally that almost succeeded.

Ipswich got 25 points from Heinz that included six treys. Jace Konsor added 16 points featuring a pair of treys and Chet Peterson also got into double figures with his 10 points that also included two treys. And Hettich would finish with four points. (Konsor dished out four of his team's eight assists.)

The hosts received five scorers led by Drew Bakeberg with 12 points. But all five of their scorers were in double-figures which is something you probably wouldn't see very often.

Ipswich was able to total 19 field goals that featured those 10 treys. And the Tiger were 7-10 in those welcomed free throw chances. Warner responded with 13 baskets including five treys and went 14-18 in their own trips to the charity stripe. Ipswich collected 18 rebounds led by Peterson's 10 boards for an impressive double-double that evening. Ipswich had only nine turnovers and Warner 10 for an awesome floor game by both schools. Eight of Warner's miscues were directly caused by Tiger steals led by Peterson's four thefts.

Now for the Tiger girls vs. Warner! The Monarchs would double Ipswich 12-6 in the first stanza. They then led 30-11 at halftime and would go ahead 44-16 with a quarter to play.

The Monarchs obtained nine different scorers led by Kyra Marcuson with 12 points. Ipswich countered with four points apiece from Tristan Geditz and Anna Nierman. Brianna Geditz and Gabby Wald each added three points. Marley Guthmiller and Natalie Crissman were next with two points each.

Ipswich totaled seven accurate floor shots all of which were two-pointers. The Tigers were only 4-16 in free throw attempts. The Monarchs responded with 22 baskets that included two treys and were 7-9 in their trips to the free throw stripes.

The boys traveled to Sully Buttes for a game Jan. 9. The girls will play Northwestern on Jan. 11 in Mellette. The girls and boys play a doubleheader on Jan 16 in Roscoe against North Central.