Whippet Boys Down Badgers For SWC Title

The Minden Whippets boys basketball team was crowned Southwest Conference champion on Saturday in Lexington.
The number one seeded Whippets defeated the Valentine Badgers to win another SWC title.
Minden was led to the title by placing three players in double figures led by Carson Blum’s 22 points followed by Derek Kissinger with 18 and Christian Schwenka with 12.
Minden got off to a hot start in the opening stanza racing to a ten point lead, 19-9, over Valentine. Kissinger and Blum scored all the team’s points. Kissinger hit three three-pointers and a free throw to finish with ten while Blum was 6 of 6 from the foul line and added a three ball as well.
In the second, Minden and Valentine combined for 33 points in an offensive quarter. Thomas Sinsel paced Minden with six points while Schwenka dropped in five and RJ Watson four.
Minden went into halftime holding a 36-25 lead.
In the third quarter, Minden was able to maintain its lead outscoring the Badgers 13-11 with Blum leading the way with five points. Watson chipped in four while Kissinger hit his fourth three of the game to put the Whippets ahead 49-36 going into the fourth.
In the final eight minutes of action, Minden put the game on ice with a 20 point effort with eight more points from Blum followed by Schwenka with six and Kissinger’s fifth three-pointer.
The Dawgs went on for the 69-50 victory.
MINDEN — Carson Blum 22, Thomas Sinsel 6, Jonas Lovin 2, RJ Watson 9, Christian Schwenka 12, Derek Kissinger 18.
The top-seeded Whippets opened defense of its Southwest Conference title on Thursday in Minden, hosting the Ogallala Indians in a semifinal tilt.
Minden was victorious picking up a 58-25 victory over the Indians, advancing to the SWC championship game to face the Valentine Badgers.
Minden’s Carson Blum went into the storied Whippets’ boys program record book for reaching the 1,000 point milestone for his four-year career.
With the senior guard’s 22 point effort against Ogallala, Blum now stands with 1,007 points with more games to play. Blum was 9 of 12 from the floor and 2 of 3 from the three-point line and 2 of 6 from the charity stripe. He also pulled down 13 rebounds and added five steals and three assists.
Coach Shannon Lovin indicated to The Courier that he is still searching for past Minden boys basketball individual records including all-time leading Minden scorers. Contact him with the information.
Minden raced out to a 15-6 lead after one period of play thanks all eight of Derek Kissinger’s points in the contest. Blum added seven while Ryan Chramosta had two.
In the second quarter, Minden would double up the Indians with its relentless full court pressure defense. The Dawgs got seven more from Blum while Jonas Lovin hit a three and Thomas Sinsel and Christian Schwenka added two points each.
Minden went into intermission with a 29-13 advantage.
Blum and Sinsel did most of the damage in the third period for the Whippets. Blum scored eight more points while Sinsel added six more points on 3 of 5 shooting. Chramosta added a three-pointer while Schwenka made two free throws.

For more information, read The Minden Courier