Boylan Still in Hononegah’s Sights

By Chris Johnson, REPORTER

 As December 2016 prepares to come to a close, the Hononegah Indians Boys Basketball Team can look at where they are and how far they have come in a little over a month. With one loss, things are looking very solid for the Hononegah Indians. The NIC-10 chase is on, and Boylan remains in clear view.

There aren’t many blemishes on the Indians’ record this season. Since the loss to Boylan on Nov. 30 by one point 69-68, things have taken off for Hononegah. The current winning streak has carried the Indians through December unscathed, notching five straight heading into tournament break time and the Christmas Holiday.

On Dec. 2 the Indians silenced the Blue Thunder 61-58. Less than a week later they beat back the Bucs on the road 54-49. On Dec. 9 an overtime period would be required, but Hononegah stayed focused and shot down the J-Hawks 54-49. On Saturday, Dec. 16, Hononegah battled Harlem and came through in double-digit fashion taking the night 61-46. The double-digit success stated just two days earlier when Hononegah faced the Auburn Knights in Rockford. The Wednesday, Dec. 14 match was expected to be a good indicator of how some of the premier teams were stacking up in the early NIC-10 race.

Josh Donaldson scored 23 points for Hononegah in the win over Auburn. The Indians took control early, and worked at keeping the Knights contained. At the end of the first period of play, Hononegah had the 21-7 edge. In the second quarter, the Knights found more efficient ways to slow the Hononegah offense and saw their deficit grow, but still within a manageable range, compared to the double-digit first quarter edge. At the half Hononegah was in front 40-13.

The second half was won by Auburn. The deficit however, would be too great to overcome. The Knights outpaced the Indians by six points in the third, and climbed back within nearly 20 points 47-26. Auburn outscored Hononegah by two points in the final frame but still fell on NIC-10 night. Kameron Kolberg scored nine points in the game for Hononegah with six put in by Spencer Murdoch. Caleb Donaldson and Max Miller each scored five for the Indians as they maintained their one loss Conference mark as the first half of the winter sports season comes to a close.

January 2017 matches feature clashes with Guilford, Freeport, Rockford East and Boylan before the month closes with an invitation to appear for the Belvidere Bucs on Jan. 27. February opens with a road trip beginning at Jefferson and winding through Belvidere North and Harlem. Hononegah returns home to start the final weeks of the regular season on Feb. 10 in a match against the Guilford Vikings.