Circle defeats Wellington 53-38 in first round of Chaparral Tournament

January 21, 2022 Cueball

Korbin Jones drives to the basket against Circle.

(Updated with Chaparral tournament scores below) by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington boys played an old foe in the first round of the Chaparral Roadrunner Classic in Anthony/Harper. Circle would beat Wellington 53-38 to drop the Crusaders to the losers bracket. Wellington is playing Belle Plaine today at 3:30 p.m. The Dragons were 62-40 losers to Clearwater.

The game started promising. The Crusaders and Thunderbirds traded baskets. Circle then went on a mini-run at quarter’s end to take a 19-13 lead.

In the second, Wellington went on an eight-point run and led Circle 21-19. The Thunderbirds led at the half 24-23.

Then the roof fell in, in the third quarter. Circle dominated Wellington, outscoring the Crusaders 16-2 en route to a 53-38 victory.

“We had great energy in the first half,” said Joe Newman, Wellington head boys basketball coach. “We got after it and competed. They hit some contested shots, but they’re a team that can score it, so that’s going to happen. In the second half we hit a wall and struggled to score. Turnovers and missed shots plagued us.”

Wellington and Circle were once Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Div. IV foes before the Thunderbirds moved up to Division 3 about six years ago.

The Crusaders fall to 3-7. Circle improved to 6-4.

Banks Hinshaw led Wellington with 11, and R.J. Clift had 10. C.D. Middleton led Circle with 17 points.