PARSONS – Meadow View Middle School historically fields very competitive athletic teams, and the Falcons proved this year is no exception, rolling to a 47-15 victory over Altoona-Midway Middle School in a boys’ Mineral Belt League basketball contest played here Thursday.
Meadow View took control of the game early in the first quarter, storming to a 24-2 lead after just six minutes of play.
Already facing a talent and size disadvantage, the Jets were further hampered with leading scorer and rebounder Chance Carter was forced to the bench in early foul trouble.
“This one got away from us early. Chance Carter picked up two quick fouls and sat out most of the first quarter,” said AMMS head coach David Batzer. “Meadow View took advantage of their size mismatch and scored 20 points while he was on the bench.”
Carter returned in the second quarter and chewed up the Falcons’ defense, scoring 10 of his team-high 14 points in that period, but the damage had already been done. Meadow View led 33-12 at halftime and then won the second half by a 14-3 count.
“We responded well in quarter two and finished the half on a nice run with 10 points from the big fella, but we’ve got to find some consistent scoring from somewhere else,” Batzer noted. “We got looks but nothing was falling. And the turnovers … that’s a theme I’d like to change.”
In addition to Carter’s 14 points, the only other offense generated by the Jets was a free throw from Chance Mustain. Mustain did led the squad with eight rebounds while Carter finished with seven.
Millis poured in 23 points for Meadow View, including 19 in the first half.
“Even in a loss we always look for the silver lining,” Batzer added. “The younger kids are starting to make better decisions, and they were even taking shots in the B game when they usually don’t. I see a confidence from them that wasn’t there earlier in the season. And a couple of our older players are just a fraction away from turning the corner and having breakout games. I think you’re going to see that happen before the end of the season. If we can put it all together, we are a much better team than our record indicates.”
AMMS, now 0-7, will travel to Mound Valley on Thursday, Jan. 18.