BELMONT — Benton senior Dominick Cummins scored 25 of his game-high 31 points in the second half to help the visiting Zephyrs hold off the Belmont Braves, 53-40, in a Six Rivers West boys’ basketball clash on Monday, Feb. 1.

It was the Zephyrs (6-4 overall, 3-3 SRW) first game back from their COVID-19 quarantine and they came out raring to go racing out to a 21-9 halftime lead on the Braves (2-13, 0-7).

Belmont’s Nate Millin and Ty Palzkill each scored 11 points in the second half to try and rally the Braves back into the game, but Cummins sank three of his five 3-point baskets and went a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line to lead the Zephyrs to a victory in their first game since Jan. 12.

Senior Nick Brant scored four points in each half to finish with eight for Benton.

Waylon Palzkill led the Braves with 14 points, while T. Palzkill followed with 13 and Millin added 11.

The Braves will have their rematch with the Zephyrs at Benton on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

At Belmont, on Thursday, Jan. 28, Potosi blew open a tight game by outscoring the host Braves, 46-25, in the second half en route to a 75-48 SRW victory.

Waylon Palzkill scored 15 of his career-high 25 points in the first half to keep the Braves within six at the intermission at 29-23. 

Senior Danny Powell opened the second half with a basket to bring the Braves within four, however the Chieftains (5-7, 4-4) followed with 10 answered points to build their lead up to 39-25 and they kept pouring it on from there as the hosts never got closer than 11 the rest of the night.

Sam Udelhofen scored 16 of his team-high 19 points in the second half to lead the Potosi outburst. Gavin Wunderlin (nine points) and Logan Uppena (eight) also had big second-half performances to finish with 12 points apiece, while Levi Groom scored eight of his 10 points in the first half for the Chieftains.

Ty Palzkill netted nine points and Nate Millin added six for the Braves.

Belmont has scheduled a non-conference varsity only game at home against Juda on Friday, Feb. 5, starting at 7 p.m., and their home game against Abundant Life Christian/St. Ambrose on Monday, Feb. 8, was been cancelled. 

Potosi…… 29   46 – 75
Belmont… 23   25 – 48
Potosi– Sam Udelhofen 19, Jake Stoney 3, Dayton Udelhofen 7, Connor McKillip 3, Levi Groom 10, Gavin Wunderlin 12, Logan Uppena 12, Jack Kaiser 9. Totals – 26  13-24  75.
Belmont – Ty Palzkill 9, Nate Millin 6, Tyler Simmons 2, Danny Powell 4, Gavin Austin 2, Waylon Palzkill 25. Totals – 17  12-21  48.
3-point goals– P 10 (S. Udelhofen 3, D. Udelhofen 2, Groom 2, G. Wunderlin 3), B 2 (T. Palzkill 1, Millin 1). Total fouls– P 22, B 16. Fouled out– None.
 

Benton….. 21   32 – 53
Belmont…   9   31 – 40
Benton– Chad Haffele 4, Jake Fawcett 2, Nate Lawrence 4, Nick Brant 8, Dominic Cummins 31, Rex Blaine 4. Totals – 18  11-13  53.
Belmont – Ty Palzkill 13, Nate Millin 11, Danny Powell 2, Waylon Palzkill 14. Totals – 14  9-13  40.
3-point goals– BEN 6 (Haffele 1, Cummins 5), BEL 3 (T. Palzkill 3). Total fouls– BEN 12, BEL 16. Fouled out– None.