The boys JV basketball team pulled out a tight win over the Byron Center Bulldogs on Tuesday, February 23. The final score for the game was 52-45. 

The Rangers started out slow. Both teams were very sloppy with the ball and turnovers were common in the first half. As a result, the Bulldogs led the Rangers 14-13 at the end of the first quarter. 

The second quarter was where the Rangers started to pick up the slack. Sophomore Nate Delaney was a monster on the boards for FHC which led to many second-chance points for the Rangers. With a combination of Nate’s rebounding efforts and an increase in energy on the bench, the Rangers took over the lead at the half 27-24. 

After the game head coach Jordan George commented on Nate’s impact on the glass and second-chance points, “A lot of guys stepped up for us today, especially Nate Delaney, who had probably his best game of the season with a couple of huge and-one baskets in the second half.”

At the half, coach George and assistant coach Chad Bauchan fired up the boys and encouraged them to come out in the second half with more intensity and energy, and told them to prepare for a dogfight. 

The boys heard the message loud and clear. Nate finished with a career-high 19 points and was the X-factor in the win for the Rangers. 

“My main goal was to help the team in any way possible,” Nate said. “I just attacked the glass all night and tried to put the ball in the hoop.”