Wartburg Takes Third Place with 64-52 Win over Sunbright

By Terry Futrell

Wartburg boys coach Joe Layne must have thought to himself “finally!” as his Bulldog team delivered one of its most balanced performances of the season with a 64-52 victory over Sunbright in the District 3-1A consolation game.

Unlike the slow, half-court game that many expected, both teams ran at full speed with transition offense dominating. With six players contributing scores, the Bulldogs took a 22-14 lead in the first quarter. Bulldog Caleb Quinney led the charge with two 3-point baskets. Elijah Heinz and Taner Branstetter added four points each. Jonah Freels led Sunbright with four points in the quarter.

Sunbright’s defense was much more effective in the second quarter, holding Wartburg to 12 points. Meanwhile the Tiger offense put 10 points on the board. The Tigers held Wartburg’s scoring ace Tanner Johnson to only three baskets in the entire first half. Wartburg led 34-24 at the half.

Sunbright’s defense continued to dominate in the third quarter as they held the Bulldogs to only three baskets and seven total points. Cole Branstetter led the Sunbright offense with four baskets in the period and the Tigers outscored Wartburg 13-7 and trimmed Wartburg’s lead to 41-37.

They say you can’t keep a good man down, and so it was with Wartburg’s post player Taner Branstetter as he came up big for the Bulldogs with four baskets in the final quarter. Tanner Johnson also added eight points in the final period as Wartburg outscored Sunbright 23-15. Cole Branstetter buried two treys and scored eight points for the Tigers in their losing effort.

Wartburg chalked up a 64-52 victory over Sunbright and earned third place in the district, having been seeded in last place coming into the tournament. With the victory, Wartburg travels to Oakdale Saturday evening to play the Eagles, who finished in second place in District 4-1A. Sunbright travels to Harriman Saturday evening to face the District 4-1A champs.