Cards open season with win over Milledgeville

The Forreston High School boys basketball team opened up the new year with a home match-up against conference foe Milledgeville on Jan. 5.

The Cardinals built up a double digit lead at the half, and were able to pull away from Milledgeville late as they cruised to the 21 point victory, 49-28.

The win moved Forreston to 7-7 on the season, and they are 3-0 in the Upstate Illini Conference.

The Cards were able to gain an early lead on the visitors thanks a solid inside-outside combination in the first quarter. Robert Cornelius scored seven in the frame along with six from Tanner Bronkema, and the Cards gained an early 15-7 advantage.

Forreston used a more balanced scoring attack in the second along with strong defense to increase their lead going into the break. Four different players scored in the second as Forreston held the Missiles to just four points in the period, and Forreston carried a 25-11 lead into the half.

Both teams matched each others scoring in the third quarter of the game, both netting seven points in the frame, and the Cards still were in control with three periods in the books, 32-18.

Forreston had its best offensive quarter in the fourth, and that allowed them to pull away for the win. They outscored the Missiles 17-10 in the fourth, and won the game by 21, 49-28.

Leading the scoring attack for the Cards were Bronkema and Skyler Hayunga with 12 points apiece, Cornelius finished with eight, Robert DeVries chipped in six, Jake Groom had three, and Brett Carlson, Braden Brace, Cody Whitehead, and Chris Sander all had two points for Forreston.