RHS Hoops Bounces Back to Sweep Out Smoky Valley

Girls: Russell 46, Smoky Valley 39
Boys: Russell 61, Smoky Valley 46
Norah Mooney scored 12 of her team-high 16 points in the second half as the Russell Lady Broncos snapped a two-game losing streak on their way to a 46-39 victory over Smoky Valley Thursday evening at Amos Morris Gymnasium.
Both teams struggled to find their rhythm in the opening eight minutes as Russell held an 8-6 edge. Smoky Valley then took a 19-18 lead at halftime aided by eight points off the bench in the period by Elsie Boughfman.
Mooney and Aubrey Birney then combined for 12 points in the third quarter to propel the Lady Broncos to a 30-26 advantage heading to the final quarter. From there, balanced production allowed Russell to win on its home floor for just the second time this season.
Aubrey Birney joined Mooney in double figures for Russell (5-9, 1-3 Mid-Continent League) by pouring in 15 points. Smoky Valley (5-8, 1-3 Central Kansas League) was led by 19 points and seven rebounds from Boughfman while Katja Blanchat pulled down 13 boards and just missed a double-double with nine points.
In the Boys contest, Jake Mooney bounced back from a frustrating night against Hoxie earlier this week with 21 points as the Broncos cruised past the Vikings 61-46.
Mooney scored 12 points in the opening quarter on four three-point baskets as Russell led 17-12 after the first eight minutes. Mooney then hit another trey in the second period as Russell extended its lead to 27-19 at intermission. The Broncos then benefitted from balanced scoring in the third stanza with a 20-point effort as seven different Russell players made baskets, swelling the lead to 47-33. Smoky Valley made things a little interesting early in the fourth quarter but the Broncos pulled away for their fifth win in their last seven games.
Trey Carlson joined Mooney in double figures for Russell (7-6, 2-2 MCL) with 12 points. Smoky Valley (3-10, 1-3 CKL), despite outrebounding Russell 31-18, dropped its third straight contest. The Vikings were led in scoring by 14 points apiece from Ty Heitschmidt and Braylon Olson as well as 12 points off the bench from Kristian Ryan.
The Broncos and Lady Broncos return to the court on Monday, February 3 when they host Ellis in an MCL doubleheader. The games were originally scheduled for January 7 but were postponed after the blizzard that affected Russell and much of Kansas during that week. Tip-off for the Girls game will be at 6 p.m. with the Boys game slated to tip around 7:30 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live on KRSL 95.9 FM, online at KRSL.com and streamed on Alexa devices.