Illinois Valley News

Cougar Roger Hults, with a season-high 26 points, led I.V. in scoring against the Knights on Tuesday, Feb. 2 in Ken Mann Memorial Gym in Cave Junction. Junior Jesse Bethke racked up nine points against the North Valley defense. (Photos by Michelle Binker, I V News)

A blowout win at home against North Valley on Tuesday, Feb. 2 has given the Illinois Valley High School boys varsity basketball team high hopes for a coming game against Henley.

Fans flocked to Ken Mann Memorial Gymnasium in Cave Junction to watch the Cougars stomp the Knights, 73-54. Coach Jeff Winters said that the 19-point win demonstrated his squad“s true potential.

“It showed what they can actually do. That“s what we should be doing in every game,“ Winters said. “We would have beaten anybody with the way we played.“

The Cougars shot 56 percent from the field, and Winters said that solid play contributed heavily to the victory.

Junior Roger Hults scored a season-high 26 points, and walked away with 4 steals and 6 assists. Sophmore Fred Hults scored 18 points, and junior Jesse Bethke scored 9 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.

Tobin Mikels, a sophomore, scored 8 points and grabbed 7 boards. Senior Ben Kendall and sophomore Troy Mikels each scored 5 and sophomore Tyler Robbins scored 2.

On Friday, Feb. 5, the Cougars headed to Phoenix High School to take on the Pirates. That game resulted in a 67-50 loss for I.V.

Roger Hults scored 18 points and Fred Hults and Bethke scored 10 each. Troy Mikels scored 9, Kendall scored 3 and Tobin Mikels 2.

Up next is a Friday, Feb. 12 home game against Henley High School.

“I“m optimistic about Friday. We“ll put everything on the line,“ Winters said. “It“s our last home game. We have nothing to lose, as long as we play good.“

That will be followed by a Tuesday, Feb. 16 contest at Hidden Valley High School and two more away-games.

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