GRC Boys Basketball Stat Leaders (As of 12/31/2022)

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

Updated December 31, 2022*

2022-23 GRC Boys Stat Leaders
Points per Game – St. Joseph Christian 73.2
Points Allowed per Game – North Andrew 46.4
Scoring Margin – Gallatin 21.6
Field Goals Per Game – Gallatin 28.5
2-pt FG Per Game – Putnam County 23.9
3-pt FG Per Game – St. Joseph Christian 10.8
Free Throw Pct – Trenton 67.6%

Points Per Game – Kemper Cline, Albany - 27.7
Highest Scoring Game – Kemper Cline, Albany vs. Tri-County - 45
Field Goals Per Game – Tyler New, Worth County - 11.1
Most FG, Single Game – Tyler New, Worth County vs. St. Joseph Christian - 16
2-pt FG Per Game – Kemper Cline, Albany - 9.2
Most 2-pt FG, Single Game – Samuel Derks, King City vs. St. Joseph Christian - 14

                Tyler New, Worth County vs. St. Joseph Christian - 14
Most 2-pt FG w/o a 3-pt FG, Single Game – Samuel Derks, King City vs. St. Joseph Christian - 14
3-pt FG Per Game – Johnston Stewart, St. Joseph Christian - 3.0
Most 3-pt FG, Single Game – Johnston Stewart, St. Joseph Christian - 7

                Isaac Bird, Gallatin vs. Princeton - 7

                Hayden Ecker, North Andrew vs. Lawson - 7
Most 3-pt FG w/o a 2-pt FG, Single Game – Logan Raby, Polo vs. KC Lutheran - 4

                Hayden Riley, St. Joseph Christian vs. Rock Port - 4
Free Throw Pct – Nick Orschlen, St. Joseph Christian - 85.7%
Most Free Throws, Single Game – Kemper Cline, Albany vs. South Harrison - 13

                Blakely Eaton, King City vs. North Andrew - 13
Most Free Throws w/o a miss, Single Game – Tyler New, Worth County vs. South Harrison - 7

2022-23 GRC East Boys Stat Leaders

Points per Game – Gallatin 73.1
Points Allowed per Game – Milan 46.9
Scoring Margin – Gallatin 21.6
Field Goals Per Game – Gallatin 28.5
2-pt FG Per Game – Putnam County 23.9
3-pt FG Per Game – Princeton 6.3
Free Throw Pct – Trenton 67.6%

Points Per Game – Talan Holt, Princeton - 19.3
Highest Scoring Game – Talan Holt, Princeton vs. Gilman City - 31

                Kobyn Metzger, Maysville vs. Albany - 31
Field Goals Per Game – Dillon Willis, Maysville - 7.9
Most FG, Single Game – Kobyn Metzger, Maysville vs. North Harrison - 12

                Dillon Willis, Maysville vs. South Harrison - 12
2-pt FG Per Game – Dillon Willis, Maysville - 7.9
Most 2-pt FG, Single Game – Dillon Willis, Maysville vs. North Harrison - 12
Most 2-pt FG w/o a 3-pt FG, Single Game – Dillon Willis, Maysville vs. North Harrison - 12
3-pt FG Per Game – Clay Evans, Princeton - 2.7
Most 3-pt FG, Single Game – Isaac Bird, Gallatin vs. Princeton - 7
Most 3-pt FG w/o a 2-pt FG, Single Game – Logan Raby, Polo vs. KC Lutheran - 4
Free Throw Pct – Kobyn Metzger, Maysville - 84.2%
Most Free Throws, Single Game – Talan Holt, Princeton vs. Gilman City - 11
Most Free Throws w/o a miss, Single Game – Kiefer Tolson, Trenton vs. Macon - 6

                Kiefer Tolson, Trenton vs. East Buchanan - 6

2022-23 GRC West Boys Stat Leaders

Points per Game – St. Joseph Christian 73.2
Points Allowed per Game – North Andrew 46.4
Scoring Margin – Pattonsburg 7.8
Field Goals Per Game – St. Joseph Christian 27.0
2-pt FG Per Game – King City 18.3
3-pt FG Per Game – St. Joseph Christian 10.8
Free Throw Pct – Worth County 65.8%

Points Per Game – Kemper Cline, Albany - 27.7
Highest Scoring Game – Kemper Cline, Albany vs. Tri-County - 45
Field Goals Per Game – Tyler New, Worth County - 11.1
Most FG, Single Game – Tyler New, Worth County vs. St. Joseph Christian - 16
2-pt FG Per Game – Kemper Cline, Albany - 9.2
Most 2-pt FG, Single Game – Samuel Derks, King City vs. St. Joseph Christian - 14

                Tyler New, Worth County vs. St. Joseph Christian - 14

Most 2-pt FG w/o a 3-pt FG, Single Game – Samuel Derks, King City vs. St. Joseph Christian - 14
3-pt FG Per Game – Johnston Stewart, St. Joseph Christian - 3.0
Most 3-pt FG, Single Game – Johnston Stewart, St. Joseph Christian - 7

                Hayden Ecker, North Andrew vs. Lawson - 7

Most 3-pt FG w/o a 2-pt FG, Single Game – Hayden Riley, St. Joseph Christian vs. Rock Port - 4
Free Throw Pct – Nick Orschlen, St. Joseph Christian - 85.7%
Most Free Throws, Single Game – Kemper Cline, Albany vs. South Harrison - 13

                Blakely Eaton, King City vs. North Andrew - 13

Most Free Throws w/o a miss, Single Game – Tyler New, Worth County vs. South Harrison - 7

Full Stats at http://www.grandriverconference.com/boys_stats.php

*Missing Games:

Trenton vs. Marceline (12/6)

Worth County vs. Mt. Ayr (12/19), vs. Green City (12/28)

GRC Girls Basketball Stat Leaders (As of 12/31/2022)

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

Updated December 31, 2022

2022-23 GRC Girls Stat Leaders
Points per Game – Polo 53.2
Points Allowed per Game – Polo 23.7
Scoring Margin – Polo 29.6
Field Goals Per Game – Polo 21.8
2-pt FG Per Game – Polo 19.9
3-pt FG Per Game – Milan 5.4
Free Throw Pct – North Andrew 59.8%

Points Per Game – Addy Henke, Princeton - 23.1
Highest Scoring Game – Addy Henke, Princeton vs. Gilman City - 38
Field Goals Per Game – Addy Henke, Princeton - 9.2
Most FG, Single Game – Addy Henke, Princeton vs. Gilman City - 14
2-pt FG Per Game – Addy Henke, Princeton - 8.1
Most 2-pt FG, Single Game – Addy Henke, Princeton vs. East Harrison - 13
Most 2-pt FG w/o a 3-pt FG, Single Game – Addy Henke, Princeton vs. East Harrison - 13
3-pt FG Per Game – Madison Lillard, North Andrew - 2.2
Most 3-pt FG, Single Game – Ashley Feiden, Gallatin vs. Putnam County - 5
Most 3-pt FG w/o a 2-pt FG, Single Game – Ashley Feiden, Gallatin vs. Putnam County - 5
Free Throw Pct – Hallie Weaver, Milan - 85.7%
Most Free Throws, Single Game – Jesslyn Knowles, Putnam County vs. Novinger - 12
Most Free Throws w/o a miss, Single Game – Addy Henke, Princeton vs. Gilman City - 8

2022-23 GRC East Girls Stat Leaders

Points per Game – Polo 53.2
Points Allowed per Game – Polo 23.7
Scoring Margin – Polo 29.6
Field Goals Per Game – Polo 21.8
2-pt FG Per Game – Polo 19.9
3-pt FG Per Game – Milan 5.4
Free Throw Pct – Princeton 57.7%

Points Per Game – Addy Henke, Princeton - 23.1
Highest Scoring Game – Addy Henke, Princeton vs. Gilman City - 38
Field Goals Per Game – Addy Henke, Princeton - 9.2
Most FG, Single Game – Addy Henke, Princeton vs. Gilman City - 14
2-pt FG Per Game – Addy Henke, Princeton - 8.1
Most 2-pt FG, Single Game – Addy Henke, Princeton vs. East Harrison - 13
Most 2-pt FG w/o a 3-pt FG, Single Game – Addy Henke, Princeton vs. East Harrison - 13
3-pt FG Per Game – Marian Dabney, Milan - 2.1
Most 3-pt FG, Single Game – Ashley Feiden, Gallatin vs. Putnam County - 5
Most 3-pt FG w/o a 2-pt FG, Single Game – Ashley Feiden, Gallatin vs. Putnam County - 5
Free Throw Pct – Hallie Weaver, Milan - 85.7%
Most Free Throws, Single Game – Jesslyn Knowles, Putnam County vs. Novinger - 12
Most Free Throws w/o a miss, Single Game – Addy Henke, Princeton vs. Gilman City - 8

2022-23 GRC West Girls Stat Leaders

Points per Game – St. Joseph Christian 49.8
Points Allowed per Game – Stanberry 33.4
Scoring Margin – St. Joseph Christian 15.8
Field Goals Per Game – St. Joseph Christian 19.9
2-pt FG Per Game – St. Joseph Christian 16.3
3-pt FG Per Game – North Andrew 3.7
Free Throw Pct – North Andrew 59.8%

Points Per Game – Chloe Burnham, St. Joseph Christian - 21.9
Highest Scoring Game – Katelyn Jones, Pattonsburg vs. Winston - 29

                Chloe Burnham, St. Joseph Christian vs. Rock Port - 29
Field Goals Per Game – Chloe Burnham, St. Joseph Christian - 8.7
Most FG, Single Game – Chloe Burnham. St. Joseph Christian - 12
2-pt FG Per Game – Chloe Burnham, St. Joseph Christian - 6.9
Most 2-pt FG, Single Game – Zoe Tunks, King City vs. Stanberry - 10
Most 2-pt FG w/o a 3-pt FG, Single Game – Katelyn Jones, Pattonsburg vs. Gallatin - 9

                Taryn Hunter, King City vs. Princeton - 9

                Katelyn Jones, Pattonsburg vs. Tri-County - 9

                Amelia Wallace, Stanberry vs. North Harrison - 9

                Riley Walker, North Andrew vs. Nodaway Valley - 9
3-pt FG Per Game – Madison Lillard, North Andrew - 2.2
Most 3-pt FG, Single Game – Madison Lillard, North Andrew vs. Plattsburg - 4

                Madison Lillard, North Andrew vs. West Platte - 4

                Maya Freudenthal, St. Joseph Christian vs. DeKalb - 4

                Chloe Burnham, St. Joseph Christian vs. Bishop LeBlond - 4

                Zoe Tunks, King City vs. DeKalb - 4

Most 3-pt FG w/o a 2-pt FG, Single Game – Taylor Sanders, Worth County vs. DeKalb - 3

                Trendi Johnson, North Harrison vs. Winston - 3

                Trendi Johnson, North Harrison vs. Southwest Livingston - 3
Free Throw Pct – Brylie Brincks, North Andrew - 80.8%
Most Free Throws, Single Game – Katelyn Jones, Pattonsburg vs. Gallatin - 9

                Chloe Burnham, St. Joseph Christian vs. Bishop LeBlond JV - 9

                Amelia Wallace, Stanberry vs. Worth County - 9

                Zoe Tunks, King City vs. Mercer - 9
Most Free Throws w/o a miss, Single Game – Taryn Hunter, King City vs. Nodaway Valley - 6

                Brylie Brincks, North Andrew vs. Worth County - 6

Full Stats at http://www.grandriverconference.com/girls_stats.php

Grand River Conference to expand to 18 teams with the addition of Marceline and Brookfield

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

The Bell Game will be coming to the Grand River Conference starting with the 2024 football season with the announcement of the Marceline Tigers and the Brookfield Bulldogs joining the GRC. The Marceline School Board voted unanimously on December 19 to leave the Lewis & Clark Conference to join the GRC. The Brookfield School Board followed on December 20, also with a unanimous vote, to leave the Clarence Cannon Conference to join the GRC. 

According to Marceline Superintendent, Dr. Zach Bruner, and Brookfield Superintendent, Dr. Kyle Collins, the GRC extended invitations to both Marceline and Brookfield to join the conference in November.  Neither said that they were looking to leave their conferences at the time, but the GRC presented a great opportunity for them.

For Marceline, joining the Grand River Conference is an opportunity for stability.  According to Dr. Bruner, the LCC had invited four schools to join the conference and only one accepted.  In addition, there is concern about the landscape of schools in the conference remaining at 11-man football.  Paris already announced that they were moving to 8-man for the 2023 season.  And there have been discussions about others possibly making the switch.  

While moving to the GRC for Marceline is the right move, it was not one that was an easy decision.  Marceline had been one of the founding members of the LCC.  For many, the LCC was all they had know their entire lives.  But in the end, they felt it was the best move for the the school and the student athletes.

For Brookfield, geography and size were big considerations.  The travel that they would have as part of the eastern division of the GRC would be less than they currently have with the CCC.  In addition, with declining enrollment, they were becoming one of the smaller schools in their conference.  Their enrollment is more in line with the schools in the GRC.  In addition, many of the schools in the GRC are teams that they already play in many sports.

In my discussion with Dr. Collins, he said that they were not considering a move, but they always wanted to look at the best options.  He wanted to add that the CCC is a great conference, but they just felt that the GRC was a great fit.

Both schools mentioned that the opportunity to have the Bell Game as a conference game and having each other as conference rivals was a plus.

We are excited to have Marceline and Brookfield as part of the Grand River Conference.  While they won't be competing as members until the 2024-25 school year, we would like to welcome them to the GRC family and look forward to working with them in the future.

Four GRC Teams capture Tournament Championships

by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com

Four GRC Teams captured Tournament Championships this past Friday and Saturday.  St. Joseph Christian girls captured the Platte Valley Invitational Tournament Championship on Friday, Polo girls and Gallatin boys won the Gallatin Invitational Tournament and Putnam County won the Tri-Rivers Classic on Saturday.

St. Joseph Christian Lions

St. Joseph Christian defeated Nodaway Valley 42-36 in the Championship of the Platte Valley Invitational on the campus of Northwest Missouri State University.  The Lions got out to a 9-6 lead after the first quarter and expanded it to 20-13 by halftime.  The lead expanded to 33-22 after the third quarter backed by the 3-point shooting of Ella Bowman.  Nodaway Valley was able to cut the Christian lead to 38-34 late before Maya Freudenthal and Lexi McDaniel each sunk a pair of free throws.  The win was the 2nd straight PVI Championship for St. Joseph Christian.  

Ella Bowman led the Lions with 14 points, including a career-high 3 three-pointers.  Lexi McDaniel added 10 points for the Lions.

Photo: St. Joseph Christian Athletics Facebook Page

Polo Lady Panthers

Polo Lady Panthers used a strong pressure defense to get out to a 26-8 lead over rival Braymer in the Championship of the Gallatin Invitational Tournament.  The Lady Panthers used that great start to knock off Braymer 55-32.  The win was the 3rd straight Gallatin Tournament Championship for Polo.

The Lady Panthers were led in scoring with a career-high 22 by Hanna Vaught, 13 by Chloe Gilbert and 12 by Lily Gentry.

Photo: Polo R-VII School District Facebook Page

Gallatin Bulldogs

Gallatin Bulldogs pulled away in the 4th quarter of the Gallatin Invitational Tournament against  Maysville after the two played a tight game through three quarters.  Gallatin led 11-9 after the first quarter.  They were able to extend it to 23-19 at halftime.  The two teams played evenly in the third quarter with Gallatin leading 38-34.  Gallatin finally put some distance between them and Maysville to win 59-43.

The Bulldogs were led in scoring by Brett Hemry with 13 and Isaac Bird with 12.

Photo: Kim Conkling

Putnam County Midgets

After a slow start falling behind 7-2, the Putnam County Midgets were able to come back and tie the Championship game of the Tri-Rivers Classic against the Schuyler County Rams at 11 to end the first quarter.  A tightly contested second quarter had the Midgets up 31-30 at the half.  The Midgets started to pull away, stretching the lead to 10 midway through the third quarter.  They would extend it to 55-44 by the end of the third.  However, the Rams would make a comeback, cutting the lead to 59-57 with two minutes left in the game.  The Midgets were able to hold on for a 63-59 wins.

Owen Ream led the Midgets with 24 points.  Trace Riediger added 19.

Photo: Putnam County R-I Basketball Facebook Page