FLATONIA — The Flatonia High School boy’s basketball team defended home court Feb. 6 at Bulldogs Gym by beating Schulenburg High School with a final score of 54-49. Both teams traded punches in a game that is usually a barn burner like it was, coming down to the last few minutes of the game where Flatonia was able to make important shots when needed. “Schulenburg’s a good team,” said Flatonia head boy’s basketball coach Chris Sodek.
“Coach Hoogendoorn’s always got those guys prepared. They played hard. They’re gonna get up in you and play good man-to-man. I was proud of our guys because we kind of held the lead the whole game. Of course they came back and tied it. We found a way just to grind it out and find a way to play together. I think early in the game, Duke hit some big shots, but he doesn’t make those shots if he doesn’t get the ball from the point guard. Keegan did an excellent job of getting us in our stuff because it was loud in there and it was hard to communicate. These two guys work great together and as well as a whole team. I’m very proud of them.”
Flatonia junior guard Keegan Green had another sensational game, doing pretty much everything on the floor from making tough shots to distributing the ball and getting the offense flowing. “Just going for the win,” Green said on his mentality. “I just want it bad.”
Schulenburg fought hard throughout this entire game and easily could have come out on top as it was back and forth for most of the game. “We never gave up,” said Schulenburg head boy’s basketball coach Rich Hoogendoorn. “We turned the ball over some early. Got ourselves in a hole, but we really battled. Byron Johnson was outstanding. Had a great game. When we played the first time, Flatonia was missing two players. We were missing one. We thought B getting hurt early in the game hurt us. I told the guys in the dressing room that I’ve been coming here for 20 years and I think my record's probably around .500. He’s a great coach, got a great program and we battle every time.”
Both teams literally traded baskets throughout the entire first quarter on a bunch of three pointers, a few free throws, and a layup, which resulted in a 11-9 lead for Flatonia at the end of the quarter. Senior shooting guard Duke Sodek caught fire in the beginning of the second quarter with a layup, free throw, and three pointer to give his team a 17-9 lead with 5:39 to play. Sodek hit another three a couple minutes later, then Schulenburg responded with a layup from senior Rodney Walton, along with an and one basket and a three pointer to make it a 22-20 ball game at the 38 second mark. One free throw with 10 seconds to go from junior guard Kade Giese put Flatonia ahead 23-20 at halftime.
Schulenburg junior guard Byron Johnson was a big part in tying the game at 28 with three and a half minutes to go in the third quarter after hitting two big three pointers from the wing. The teams traded punches again throughout the rest of the quarter, resulting in a 37-33 lead for Flatonia at the end of it.
Green took over in the fourth quarter for the Bulldogs, hitting layups, free throws, and three pointers. Some of these shots even came in clutch fashion with a three from the wing at about the five minute mark to make it 44-39 in favor of Flatonia. Green also hit crucial free throws down the stretch in the last couple minutes. The Shorthorns stayed in the game with their long range shooting, but it was Flatonia who had ice in their veins at the free throw line to wrap up a 54-49 victory.
