Cutthroats push Murtaugh to limit

Fall 53-44 at Northside hoops

Earlier this season, Community School senior Henry Rickbeil, who averaged 17.3 ppg in his teams three conference tournament games, goes up for a shot past Wood River defenders, from left, Jake Vegwert, Stone Sutton and Braxton Parish. Action took place at The Fish Tank in Sun Valley Photo by David N. Seelig

Tuesday's 53-44 loss to the Murtaugh Red Devils in the Northside Conference tournament represented "a super, super effort," by the Community School boys' basketball team on the Castleford hardwoods, according to Sun Valley athletic coordinator Richard Whitelaw.

Coach Erik Olson's No. 7-seeded Cutthroat squad (7-12) trailed 23-15 at halftime but overtook the No. 4-seeded Red Devils 37-30 after three quarters because of an amazing 22-7 third-quarter surge. Unfortunately the shorthanded Cutthroats couldn't sustain the rally and fell short.

One night after losing to top-seeded Carey by 26 points in the semi-final contest, Murtaugh finished the night with six 3-pointers and polished off its loser-out victory over the Cutthroats with a lopsided 23-7 advantage in the fourth period. Senior Humberto Pacheco (14 points) led Murtaugh (13-10).

Nevertheless the Cutthroats performed well, Whitelaw said. "All the players represented the school with fine distinction and (coaches) Erik and Willy (Felton) did a bang-up job in guiding the team to its impressive conclusion," he added.

Senior Henry Rickbeil (11.6 ppg, 17.3 ppg at district) scored 14 of his game-high 20 points in the second half, one night after tallying a season-best 26 in a huge win over Camas County of Fairfield.

Will Brokaw (18.6 ppg), the team's leading scorer, added 7 of his 12 points after half. He scored in double figures in 17 of 18 games. Sophomore point guard Taylor Adler chipped in 6 of his 10 points after half. Doug DuFur added a bucket.

A highlight was Monday's 55-50 loser-bracket victory over No. 6 Camas County (7-13). It snapped a nine-game Cutthroat losing streak at the conference tourney dating back to 2008, including elimination by the Mushers at the tournament for three straight years.

Overall record: Community School 7-12 (2-6 home, 5-6 away, 2-6 league, No. 7 seed). Offense: 845 points (44.5 ppg). Defense: 880 points (46.3 ppg). Individual scoring: Will Brokaw 335 points (18.6 ppg); Henry Rickbeil 220 (11.6 ppg, 17.3 ppg district); Taylor Adler 133 (8.9 ppg); Doug DuFur 54 (2.8 ppg); Colton Sholtis 37 points; Jake Flaherty 24; Bobby Corker 13; Hunter Weaver 13; Nick Krekow 12; Reed Roudabush 4. 3-pointers (72): Will Brokaw 53, Doug DuFur 6, Henry Rickbeil 6, Taylor Adler 4, Bobby Corker 2, Jake Flaherty 1.

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