The Fulda Raiders ended their season on Thursday night in the 1st Round of the Sub-section 3A playoffs with a 68-52 loss to the Ellsworth Panthers.
The Raiders held a 2-point halftime lead, but struggled to score or get stops on the defensive end, as the Panthers were able to take control.
Sam Cheadle scored 20 points and had 9 rebounds. Payton Marquardt finished with 12 points, while Cory Renneke added 8 points. Tyler Madison grabbed 10 rebounds.
The first half was very much back and forth with each team having their own mini-runs.
Ellsworth jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead, but the Raiders were able to start shooting well with Renneke and Marquardt knocking down 3-pointers.
Cheadle was able to drive to the basket, while also hitting a couple of jumpers from just inside the free throw line.
The Panthers responded by getting their shooter open on the perimeter. They were able to do it in the half court, but also in the full court, as they were able to easily break the Raiders’ press and convert many scores.
Cheadle kept the Raiders going in the first half with a couple more baskets and the Raiders went to the locker room with a 34-32 halftime lead.
The second half wasn’t very kind to the Raiders. All the good shooting the Raiders had going for them went silent.
No one seems to find anything to fall for Fulda, while Ellsworth was able to get the Raiders to jump in the wrong direction and drive right to the basket.
They also outworked and out hustled the Fulda team and dominated the offensive rebounds. That contributed to the Panthers being able to shoot twice as many shots as the Raiders.
Cheadle was able to once again get to the basket, but nothing else was going. Missed 3-pointers, missed layups, and turnovers killed the Raiders throughout the game, but mainly in the second half. Ellsworth defeated the Raiders with a final score of 68-52.
LEADING SCORERS
Cheadle – 20
Marquardt – 12
Madison – 9
Renneke – 8
LEADING REBOUNDERS
Madison – 10
Cheadle – 9
