Tabor wins first KCAC home game of season

Tabor picked up its first conference win at home, walking away from Ottawa in the second half 68-51 on Thursday night..

Scoring a game high 16 points, Cody Arnold started the game scoring the first five points to give Tabor an early lead over the scoreless Braves. Arnold opened the game on his first of seven rebounds followed by a lay up. The next Tabor possession, Arnold nailed a deep three.

A Damon Dechant basket gave Tabor a 7-0 lead before Ottawa got on the board.?The Braves?came back, cutting the Bluejay lead to 11-10 with 13:50 in the first half.

Tabor rebuilt its lead to 22-14 before Ottawa went on a five point run, that started with a dunk in traffic by Chris Tate. The spurt quickly ended on a physical play by Isaac Johnston

Down 22-19, Johnston tried to ward off Bluejay defender Lawson Kingsley and connected with a flailing elbow to Kingsley?s face.

Kingsley fell to the floor, remaining for a few moments. Johnston was whistled for a flagrant technical foul. Both players finished the game.

Arnold sunk the ensuing foul attempts to give Tabor a 43-25 advantage. Tabor finished the half maintaining an eight-point lead,?and headed?into the locker room 35-27.

Ottawa hung around, keeping the score in single digits in the early part of the second half. Tabor eventually pulled away. Tabor held its biggest lead with 1:52 left to play at 68-48.

Moments before, Tabor coach Micah Ratzlaff, emptied his bench. The shot to put Tabor ahead twentty came courtesy of Bluejay reserve Gavin Serene. Serene?s three pont bucket was the last of the game for Tabor. Thursday night’s win gave Tabor a regular season sweep of Ottawa. The Bluejays beat Ottawa 78-67 on?Dec. 12 in Ottawa.

Three Bluejays finished with double figures, Arnold, Dechant (12), and Michael Janzen (11). Daniel Hann led the Bluejays on the boards with 11 rebounds. Other contributers were Ryan Chippeaux (9 points, 6 rebounds), Lawson Kingsley (8 points, 3 assists), Hann (4), Serene (3), Jason Hett and Clay Shewey (2), Rob Moore (1).

Ottawa?s Chris Tate finished with a double-double scoring 15 points and 11 rebounds. Corey Smith scored 11.

Tabor improved to 5-8 in the KCAC and 8-14 overall. Ottawa fell to 3-9, 5-18.

Kansas Wesleyan will visit Tabor on Saturday for parents? night. Tabor beat the Coyotes 72-59 on Jan. 7 in Salina.

More from Hillsboro Free Press
Area players win at Concordia
The Kansas Elite Fast Pitch team won the 16U division at the...
Read More