Vikings able to knock off Roughriders

Southwest junior Justin Brush (44) was a load for the Bertrand Vikings to handle Friday night with his double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds at Bartley.

Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

BARTLEY, Neb. — Southwest’s boys featured seven players hitting shots, but the Roughriders still dropped a 61-44 battle to Bertrand Friday night.

Junior Justin Brush took his 6’5” talents inside where he battled for 11 rebounds besides scoring a team-high 17 points.

Freshman Hunter Cunningham stepped outside to hit his only three-point attempt.

Freshman Bailey Truksa (12) drives past a Bertrand Viking during Southwest’s home basketball game Friday evening in Bartley. Truksa scored 10 points.

Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

He totaled seven points while freshmen Kaiden Ruggles (six points), Cole Barnett (five) and Kaden Day (four) also contributed to the Roughrider effort.

However, Southwest’s now 2-11 this season entering another tough home game against the Loomis Wolves Tuesday night.

Bertrand earned its third win in 12 games this season.

Cunningham collected five rebounds and swiped three steals. Ruggles swiped another three yet Viking defense pressured Southwest into 23 turnovers.

Girls action

In Friday’s first varsity contest, the visiting Bertrand girls escaped with a 35-29 triumph over Southwest.

Freshman Bailey Truksa’s 10 points paced these Roughriders (4-8 record) with classmate Caylin Barnett adding eight points.

Barnett’s greatest impact arrived at both backboards, which she cleaned for a game-high 16 rebounds: eight offensive and eight defensive.

Senior Jadyn Brooks slipped another six points through the nets as Southwest challenged a solid 7-5 Bertrand team.

Junior Haylee Adams (three points) and sophomore Bailey Oltmer (two) completed the SW scoring attack.

Senior Johanna Soughroue secured another six rebounds for the ’Riders.

Truksa finished with five. The Southwest girls will also host Loomis to begin Tuesday’s varsity doubleheader in Bartley.