K-P boys move past A-W in 1A district basketball

KINGSLEY — The Kingsley-Pierson boys basketball team opened the Class 1A district tournament with a 63-35 win over Akron-Westfield on Monday.

The Panthers built up a double digit lead by the end of the first quarter and outscored the Westerners in each subsequent frame.

The Panthers shot well from the perimeter with 12 made 3-pointers in the game. Five different players recorded a triple in the game.

Beau Goodwin led the Panthers with 19 points. He had a pair of 3-pointers and also was perfect on his five free-throw attempts. He added five assists which was second on the team.

Conner Beelner made four 3-pointers as he finished with 15 points. He added five rebounds which was second on the team.

Evan Neumann was the team’s third player in double figures with 11 points which included three 3-pointers.

Boston Doeschot added two 3-pointers and finished with eight points. He led the team with six assists.

Derek Reinking pulled down a team-high nine rebounds and had the only blocked shot for the Panthers. He ended with seven points.

The other player to score for the team was Brady Hirschman as he got the team’s other 3-pointer for his three points.

Carter Wilken was the top scorer for the Westerners with nine points, all of which came on three 3-pointers. Arik Allard, Jacob Myers and Jackson Marnach added six points apiece. Marnach led the way with nine rebounds and the team’s lone blocked shot.

Tatum Wilken and Kasey Nielsen ended with four points apiece.

The Panthers have won the last four meetings in the series, all in postseason games.

Akron-Westfield finishes the season with a 5-16 record. The Westerners graduate Myers, Colby Main, Guot Marieu and Tanner Staffon from this year’s team.

Kingsley-Pierson (17-4) has now won 12 games in a row. They will host South O’Brien (15-7) in the next round on Thursday.