Baxter boys stay unbeaten in conference play after routs of Comets, Spartans

BAXTER — The Baxter boys basketball team made more than half of its shot attempts from the floor, turned the ball over only six times and routed BCLUW during Iowa Star Conference South Division play on Thursday.

Eli Dee had maybe the best all around game of his prep career, eight Bolts scored at least three points and Baxter drubbed the Comets 81-45 at home.

Baxter scored at least 19 points in all four quarters. It led by nine after one, outscored the Comets 19-8 in the third and won the second half 42-26.

Dee posted 41 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and a career-best eight steals to lead the Bolts. He was 18-of-23 from the floor.

Dakota Parker made four 3-pointers and finished with 12 points and two assists. Stadan Vansice totaled five points, two rebounds and three assists, Hayden Burdess chipped in four points, two assists and two steals and Maddux Tuhn tallied four points and five boards.

Colten Damman led the reserves with five points and two rebounds. Miles McCord scored five points, Holden Dee put in three points and Brecken Maxwell grabbed four rebounds off the bench.

The Bolts (5-2, 5-0 in the conference) shot 53 percent from the floor, made 9-of-23 from 3-point range and connected on 8-of-12 from the free-throw line.

Baxter is 7-0 against BCLUW (4-3, 4-2) since 2022.

Baxter 89, Collins-Maxwell 40

BAXTER — The Bolts made a season-best 13 treys, registered a season high point total and posted their largest win margin of the season during an 89-40 home win over rival Collins-Maxwell on Friday.

Baxter led the Spartans by seven after one and won the fourth by eight but dominated the middle two quarters during the Iowa Star Conference South Division game.

The Bolts, who are 16-2 in the series since 2017, shot 50 percent from the floor, made 13-of-34 from 3 and connected on 16-of-23 from the foul line. They committed only five turnovers.

Eli Dee led Baxter with 36 points, eight rebounds and three assists. He was 10-of-10 from the charity stripe and 12-of-17 from the floor.

Parker posted 15 points, two rebounds and four steals and Holden Dee contributed a career-best 14 points and a career-high seven boards off the bench. Parker was 5-of-12 from 3 and Holden Dee was 4-of-10.

Vansice totaled four points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals, Burdess chipped in eight points, four rebounds and three assists and Damman finished with three points and three assists off the bench.

Blake Maxwell and Grayson Scroggins each scored three points off the bench and reserve McCord grabbed two boards.

The Bolts outscored Collins-Maxwell 29-7 in the second and 20-8 in the third.

The 49-point margin of victory over the Spartans (2-5, 1-5) is the second largest ever and largest since Jan. 13, 2023.

Martensdale-St. Marys 73, Baxter 56

BAXTER — Eli Dee’s double-double was not enough against Martensdale-St. Marys on Monday.

The Bolts trailed by seven after one and were outscored by seven in the third, too, during a 73-56 home loss.

Baxter turned the ball over only 10 times but was plagued by 4-of-22 shooting from 3. The Bolts made 40.7 percent from the floor and hit 8-of-12 from the foul line.

Eli Dee finished with 32 points, 11 rebounds and five assists and Damman added three points, two rebounds, four assists and two blocks off the bench.

McCord chipped in five points and three boards off the bench, Burdess had four points and seven boards and Tuhn totaled four points and two boards.

Blake Maxwell put in a career-best five points off the bench, Brecken Maxwell scored three points, Holden Dee grabbed three boards and Parker pulled down two rebounds.

Colton Wright led the Blue Devils with 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists and Slade White added 12 points and eight rebounds. Four players finished in double figures and Dominic Yates grabbed nine boards.

Martensdale-St. Marys (6-2) made 13-of-15 from the foul line, turned the ball over five times and out-rebounded the Bolts 37-31. The Blue Devils sunk only 6-of-20 from 3.