Class 1A Region 8 basketball began in Churdan last night on KG98 and streamed on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com. Coach Tom Kennedy’s Paton-Churdan Rockets won 67-56 over Rolling Hills Activities Conference rival Coon Rapids-Bayard in first round play. P-C went 3-0 this season over CR-B and improved to 14-8 while the Crusaders ended the season with a 4-18 record. The game was broadcast on KG98 and streamed on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com.

Junior Danielle Hoyle, a 6′ 2″ post, scored 20 points for the home team with 14 in the second half. Three-point shooting by the Rockets was the biggest storyline of this one. Averaging 5.5 three-pointers per game, P-C went 13 of 20 beyond the arc en route to scoring 22 points above their season scoring average. Sophomore Carmyn Paup had 18 points on six-three’s, and junior Tessa Steimel also scored 18. Hoyle hauled in 10 rebounds and blocked eight shots.

P-C went 26 of 45 from the field for 58% while CR-B was 23 of 57 for 40%.  The Rockets turned ball over 10 times to just six for the Crusaders.

CR-B also scored well above their 36 points per game average and they sank six three-pointers, more than 10 percent of their season total beyond the arc  Ayala Betts was one of four Crusaders to score in double figures. Betts scored 20 points, more than double her game average.

Coach Tom Kennedy’s team is home again for the next round on Tuesday, Feb. 18 in Churdan at 7 p.m. vs. Glidden-Ralston on KG98 and streamed on www.raccoonvalleyradio,com. G-R was a 65-32 first round winner over Ar-We-Va (Westside) Thursday night in Gladden.