The Turner Tornadoes dropped a pair of close contests this weekend in Glasgow to begin the season.

The Tornadoes fell Friday to the Nashua Porcupines 65-61. Turner finished the game strong scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter.

Senior Tyler Humphreys paced the effort with a team high 20 points. Senior Bret VanValkenburg added 11. Sophomore Eddie Harmon contributed 9 markers in the contest.

Saturday the Tornadoes found themselves in a battle with Lustre Christian.

Turner trailed at the half 26-14 but much like the day before they were stronger in the second half.

The Tornadoes closed the gap to 33-28 entering the fourth quarter. However the rally would fall short as the team fell 47-38.

Freshman Cody Welsh scored a team high 14 points in the contest while VanValkenburg added ten.

"They killed us on the boards Friday, but we improved and were much better Saturday," stated VanValkenburg.

Turner seniors are Van Valkenburg and Humphreys. The team doesn't have a junior out.

Sophomores returning are Eddie Harmon and Damian Schuhmacher. New to the team is Jonathan Wu an exchange student playing his first year.

Freshman include Cody Welsh, Tracer Heilig, Clayton Krass and Kurt Calvert.

Also on the roster are a pair of eighth graders as Jack Harmon and Jevyn Schuhmacher will look to contribute when called upon.

"Bret and Tyler have plenty of experience and will be counted on as seniors," VanValkenburg stated.

"The sophomores both will be playing their third year of varsity ball having played as eighth graders and will be able to provide some leadership as well," added VanValkenburg.

Head Coach Bret Van Valkenburg would have liked to pick up a win of course but the team has two weeks to prepare for its conference opener against North Star on December 18.

"We will work on crashing both the offensive and defensive glass over the next two weeks. I know the kids will improve, they work hard," commented VanValkenburg.

"We have a good group out this year and I expect them to work hard. Were young but we will compete," concluded VanValkenburg.

The Tornadoes begin conference play with a trip to Gildford on December 18 to face the Knights.

The team will entertain the Fort Benton Longhorns on December 19. They will host Chester-Joplin-Inverness on December 21 prior to beginning the holiday break.

They Tornadoes will return to the court January 5 in Dodson.