The Chanticleer boys basketball team opened up with Pierce Bluejays in the C-9 sub-district at Boone Central on Monday night. The game began with both teams feeling each other out. “I thought we did a good job putting pressure on them and making them earn their points tonight. They are a very disciplined team so it's hard to run away from them.” Coach Gates said after the game The teams would be tied after the 1st quarter but after that, the Chants would never trail. Taking a five-point lead into the locker room before extending the lead to 14 points in the 2nd half before the Bluejays would try to rally. However, the Chants held them off with some late free throws and pulled away for a 43-35 victory. Talan Bruha led the Chants with 10 points and five rebounds. Jordan Williams, Blake Hinrichs, and Colton Thompson added eight points in the win. The win set up a game with the top-seeded Boone Central Cardinals.
The game stared well for the Chants with the Chants taking an early lead of 10-9 after the 1st quarter. It would stay a tight game in the first half with the teams tied going into the locker room. In the 3rd quarter, the Cardinal would be able to take a seven-point lead going into the 4th. The game would stay within single digits till the Chants had to foul at the end allowing the Cardinal to take 14 point victory 51-37. “We played a really good game tonight in every aspect but putting the ball in the hole.” Coach Gates said after the game. “I am proud of the effort and execution tonight,” Gates added. The Chants were led by Blake Hinrichs with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Talan Bruha added ten points and seven rebounds. It would be the last game in a Chant uniform for Talan Bruha, Blake Hinrichs, Jace Geiser, and Aidan Ryschon. “That was a great group of seniors and we will miss them because they contributed to our success this season on the stat sheet but also in ways that don’t show up in the box score.” Coach Gates said. The Chants end the season with a record of 11-13. The first double-digit win season in the last four years.