Tornadoes Lose to Fort Benton, Chester/JI
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The Turner Tornado boys basketball team returned to the court after an early season bye a week ago. The Tornadoes went 1-1 at the Class C Showcase two weeks earlier, being the first local team to begin play of the new season.
Looking to make the most of the early season layoff the Tornadoes headed west to take on Fort Benton Friday night before returning home Saturday to take on the Chester/Joplin-Inverness Hawks in their home opener.
Friday in Fort Benton the Tornadoes battled the Longhorns tough early on, trailing 18-16 heading into the second quarter. Sophomore Ryan Doyle connected twice from beyond the arc and scored eight points in the frame.
Fort Benton took control of the contest from that point on, leadeing35-23 at the break and 59-29 the end of three. Turner began 9C play with a 71-34 setback against the Longhorns. Doyle finished with 11 for the Tornadoes.
Saturday the boys were at home to take on the Hawks. Chester/J-I led 15-7 at the end of the first and 22-16 at halftime. Turner continued to play hard and match the effort of the visiting Hawks down the stretch
Chester/J-I held a slim 35-32 lead over the Tornadoes entering the fourth quarter. The Hawks pulled away down the stretch handing the Tornadoes a 50-42 loss. Doyle again paced the Turner offense with 16 points in the contest. Senior Trevor Kimmel added 10 points of his own in the loss.
The Tornadoes concluded 2021 with games Monday and Tuesday of this week against the Dodson Coyotes and Box Elder Bears. Turner will make their first appearance of the new year on January 7 when they will travel to Hays to take on the Thunderbirds. The Tornadoes will be in Chinook the following night.
