Baxter boys open season with blowout win over Meskwaki Settlement School

BAXTER — Eli Dee started his senior season with a 39-point, 15-rebound double-double in the Baxter boys basketball team’s season-opening victory over Meskwaki Settlement School on Tuesday.

Two Bolts made their first career varsity starts and six played in a varsity game for the first time, but the Bolts routed the Warriors 81-49 during Iowa Star Conference South Division action.

Baxter, which scored its seventh straight win over Meskwaki Settlement, led 17-10 after one quarter and extended the lead by at least eight points in each of the final three frames during its home opener.

Dee, who averaged 29 points per game last season, scored 39 on 15-of-25 shooting from the floor. He was 9-of-11 from the free-throw line.

His 15 rebounds are a new career high and he added four steals, three assists and two blocks.

Dakota Parker finished with 17 points and two steals in his first varsity start. He was 5-of-9 from 3-point range.

Maddux Tuhn chipped in 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals and Colten Damman contributed three points, four assists and two rebounds.

Hayden Burdess posted six points, seven boards, four assists and two steals in his first career varsity start and Stadan Vansice pulled down five boards and dished out five assists.

The Bolts (1-0, 1-0 in the conference) shot 51 percent from the floor and made 6-of-17 from 3. They were 13-of-16 from the foul line and turned the ball over 11 times.

Miles McCord, Blake Maxwell, Brecken Maxwell, Holden Dee, Alec Robinson and Grayson Scroggins all made their varsity debuts. McCord and Scroggins scored their first varsity points.