Imbler boys win crown

By Gerry Steele

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Imbler used a pair of first-half spurts to build a cushion that Powder Valley couldn’t overcome Saturday in the District 7-1A boys basketball championship game at Baker High School.

Imbler, who had split two regular-season games with the Badgers, went on to defeat Powder 53-39 for the district title.

Imbler is now idle until the second round of the Class 1A state playoffs. Powder Valley will tentatively host Sherman in a first round game Tuesday.

Trailing 10-9 late in the first quarter, Imbler ran off seven unanswered points to build a 16-12 lead at the break. Riley Kretschmer scored five of the points in the run.

Then, leading 18-16 with 5:25 left in the first half, the Panthers went on a 6-0 run — four by Casey Robertson — on the way to a 26-19 halftime advantage.

Powder Valley managed to cut the deficit to six points, 45-39, on Quin Stephens’ rebound basket with 3:54 left in the game.

But Imbler then scored the final eight points to put the game away.

Kretschmer led Imbler with 22 points. Robertson added a dozen, and had 10 rebounds.

Shae Wendt led Powder Valley with 11 points.

IMBLER (53)

    Bigej 3 2-2 8, Kretschmer 9 1-2 22, Shodin 3 1-2 7, Johnson 1 2-3 4, Robertson 6 0-3 12, Griffin, Bowers, Insko. Totals 22 6-12 53.

POWDER VALLEY (39) - 

   Dixon 1 2-2 4, Stephens 3 2-2 8, Pratt 1 0-1 2, N. Benites 1 1-2 3, Robinson 2 1-4 5, Allen 2 0-0 4, Wendt 4 1-4 11, Jones 1 0-0 2, McElligott, J. Benites. Totals 15 7-15 39.

Imbler                         -16 10 14 13 — 53

Powder Valley           - 12   7 13  7 — 39

     Three-point baskets — Kretschmer 3, Wendt 2. Fouled out — none. Total fouls — Imbler 14, Powder Valley 13. Technicals — none.