By Fred Kroner
Villa Grove finished the BSN Classic, at Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin High School, with a victory in its final contest on Wednesday (Dec. 29). VG entered the tournament following a 17-day layoff due to COVID-19 issues.
The Blue Devils topped the B-H/R-A junior varsity, 48-45, in the 11th-place game.
Ashton Harrison and Layne Rund both hit five three-point shots to lead VG. Harrison netted a season-high 19 points. Rund was right behind, with 17 points. Brady Clodfelder and Robert Fancher each scored five points.
Villa Grove trailed, 36-29, entering the fourth quarter, but Rund sparked the comeback with eight points during the last eight minutes. The Blue Devils got 6-of-9 fourth-period free throws to drop as well.
Harrison erupted for 14 points in the second quarter.
On Tuesday (Dec. 28), the Blue Devils were beaten by Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin, 78-39, and by Milford, 72-31.
Against B-H/R-A, Rund had a team-high seven points, Luke Zimmerman ended with six points, as did Fancher. Harrison totaled five points.
Against Milford, Rund’s nine points were a team high. Liam Barr registered seven points. Parker Stevens finished with six points and Harrison tacked on three points.
On Monday (Dec. 27) in first-day action at the BSN Classic, the Blue Devils suffered two losses.
The Blue Devils dropped a 58-50 decision to the Rantoul Junior Varsity and fell to Indiana Math and Science, 61-48.
Against Rantoul, Harrison and Rund shared the team-lead in scoring with 10 points apiece. Clodfelder and Stevens each made seven points. Fancher added five points.
The Rantoul JV held narrow leads after the first (9-8) and second (22-21) quarters, before taking control in the third quarter, building a 38-29 lead.
Against Indiana Math and Science, Villa Grove led, 27-18, at halftime and 44-35 after three quarters, but managed just four free throws in the final period.
Fancher drained four three-point shots en route to a team-high 15 points. Harrison hit eight points, Stevens had seven and Clodfelder finished with six points.
Villa Grove (3-11) returns to action on Tuesday (Jan. 4) at home against Tri-County.
