Baxter boys make history, then rout Spartans

TAMA — The Baxter boys’ basketball team had to rally for its first win in program history on Dec. 5.

The Bolts trailed by four at halftime but outscored Meskwaki Settlement School by 34-25 in the second half and claimed a 60-55 road victory.

Junior Will Clapper led the way for the Bolts with 27 points and 10 rebounds. He made 11-of-18 from the floor and was 5-of-9 from the free-throw line.

Senior Braydon Aker added eight points, 13 rebounds and four assists, and sophomore Cole Damman chipped in eight points and six assists. Senior Travis Lindemoen scored five points and delivered four assists and senior Bryce Bacon added five points and four boards. Senior Noah Galloway also scored five points.

Baxter made 23-of-52 from the floor, were 4-of-13 from 3-point range and connected on 10-of-19 from the line.

The Bolts are now 2-1 on the season and 2-1 in the Iowa Star Conference.

The loss was the first for the Warriors. Tate Bear led the Warriors with a game-high 30 points.

Baxter hosted North Mahaska on Dec. 12. The Bolts stay home to face Grand View Christian at 8 p.m. on Dec. 15.

Baxter 60, Collins-Maxwell 24

MAXWELL — Twelve different Bolts broke the scoring column, and five players scored at least six points in Baxter’s 60-24 win over Collins-Maxwell on Dec. 8 during Iowa Star Conference play.

Damman scored a game-high 14 points for Baxter and added six steals, four assists and three rebounds.

Clapper added 12 points and nine rebounds, Aker chipped in eight points, six rebounds, six steals and three assists and Galloway and junior Ian Thomson each put in six points. Bacon grabbed six boards.

Baxter won the game despite shooting only 34 percent from the floor. The Bolts were 8-of-25 from 3-point range.

The Bolts led the Spartans (0-5, 0-4) 34-12 at halftime.

Collins-Maxwell was led by senior Carter Fricke, who scored 12 points. Only four Spartans scored in the game.