If there was an added expense this season for the Tecumseh boys’ basketball team, it might well be the addition of track shoes.
In last week’s season opening game at Urbana, the Arrows came out running with a new high-flying offense, and it paid off for a 61-59 victory over the Hillclimbers in front of a good crowd at Urbana high School.
Three Tecumseh players reached double figures, led by Malik Quisenberry with 27 points, while Darius Quisenberry added 21 and Rylan Magsaysay scored 11.
Tecumseh led early 8-2 behind a pair of threes from Malik Quisenberry, one of seven he made for the night. Urbana answered to eventually tie the game at 16, and both teams went into the second quarter knotted at 20.
Urbana led 31-30 midway through the second period, but Malik Quisenberry hit a pair of free throws to put the Arrows back in front, but their offense would not score the rest of the half, and Urbana would hit a layup in the final minute to take the 33-32 lead into the half.
Neither team could pull away in the second half, as the largest lead in the third period would be three points. A big three from Jordan Underwood, who led Urbana with 22 points, gave the host Climber squad a 45-43 lead with 1:27 left in the third period.
After an Urbana dunk electrified the crowd, the Arrows answered in the final second as Malik Quisenberry buried another three, giving the Arrows a 48-47 lead heading to the fourth.
Tecumseh would hit their free throws (12-14) to escape with the win.
*A fast start by the Arrows helped them cruise past Shawnee 73-52 last Friday to give the Arrows their second consecutive win to open the season. Tecumseh led 26-7 after one period play, and increased their lead to 44-18 at the half, never looking back en route to the win.
Both Malik and Darius Quisenberry scored 20 points for the Arrows leading them to the win.
Tecumseh returns to the court Friday night at Kenton Ridge.
Tecumseh Girls Basketball- Six players scored in double figures as the Arrows dismantled Indian Lake 113-32 last week in a CBC crossover game. Senior Lindsay Nartker had 20 points, while freshman Presley Griffitts added 20 points and 15 assists. Also scoring for the Arrows were Allison Berner and Corinne Thomas each with 15, Danielle Franklin added 14 and Caroline Smith scored 12.
Also on Saturday, the Arrows jumped out to an early lead, and again pushed it out to 20 points in the second half, before holding on thanks to some clutch free throws by senior Danielle Franklin and Lindsey Nartker to defeat Kenton Ridge 82-75. Five players reached double figures for the Arrows, as Nartker scored 26 to lead the way. Freshmen Presley Griffitts and Corinne Thomas each added 17 in the win, while scoring 11 each was Caroline Smith and Franklin.
It was a game of runs, as the Arrows jumped in front 26-9 before the Cougars came fighting back to make it a game. Thomas scored all 17 of her points in the third period as the Arrows built their lead again, but Kenton Ridge brought it to the Arrows in the final eight minutes, and made it a three-point game in the closing minute before Franklin capped the wins with her free throws.
“I thought the pressure could have put it away early and we almost did,” Tecumseh coach Danielle Thomas. “We got Lindsey into some foul trouble and it opened up their bigs inside.”
“We got up 20 and kind of relaxed.”
Tecumseh hosts Tippecanoe tonight for sole possession of the league lead. Both are unbeaten in CBC play.
