Strong First Half Shooting Leads to 88-70 Win Over Hesston

(Hastings, NE) – Facing Hesston in their home opener on Tuesday, the Broncos hit 11 first half threes to go up 25 at the half, en route to an 88-70 victory over the Larks.

Hastings got off to an 11-2 start, with a three each from senior Ben Boudreau, junior Micah Hinrichs, and junior Maverick Binder. Leading 15-8, junior Evan Humphrey hit a three to go up 10. Junior Nate Parras made back-to-back baskets inside to keep the Broncos up 10 midway through the half.

Binder drilled two threes in the next minute and Boudreau made another shortly after to go up 31-17 at the 8:22 mark. With a 33-22 lead, Hastings closed the half on a 20-6 run. Boudreau, Binder, and Hinrichs each made threes and Parras converted a three-point play, as Hastings took a 53-28 lead into the half.

In the first half, Hastings shot 68 percent overall and were 11-15 from three for 73 percent. Hesston shot 43 percent overall and 38 percent from three in the first half. The Broncos held a 16-8 edge on the glass and forced eight turnovers. Binder had 16 points and six assists in the first half, making 4-5 from three-point range. Boudreau had 11 points and made all three of his threes.

A three from Binder early in the second half put them up 26, but Hesston responded with a 16-2 run to get within 12 with 12:13 to go. Binder and Boudreau made a couple of shots to slow the run by the Larks, but Hesston got within 10 halfway through the second half.

On the next Bronco possession, Parras made the first free throw, and after an offensive rebound off of the second shot, Hinrichs drilled a corner three to go up 14. Freshman Rylee Meininger came in off the bench and hit a couple of midrange jumpers, then Hinrichs made another three, as they led 75-60 with 6:09 remaining.

After a basket by sophomore Maurice Bryant, they got a stop and Boudreau found Parras for a powerful two-handed jam. Boudreau later put the Broncos up 22 with five quick points. Meininger closed out the Bronco scoring with a couple of free throws in the 88-70 win.

Hastings shot 54 percent in the second half, while 62 percent for the game and 54 percent from three. Hesston shot 51 percent from the field for the game and 31 percent from three. Hastings also held a 32-25 edge in rebounding. 

Binder finished with 21 points on 5-7 from three, eight assists, four rebounds and three steals. Boudreau had 18 points on 4-8 from three, six rebounds, and three assists. Hinrichs had 14 points on 4-7 from three, five assists, and four rebounds. Off the bench, Parras added 12 points and Meininger chipped in with 10 points.

Up next, Hastings (5-0) will begin their conference season at Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 3:45pm.