The Batesville Middle School 8th Grade Boys Basketball Team capped off a thrilling week on Thursday night with a 49-34 victory over crosstown rival St. Louis to claim the SEI Tournament Championship. Playing in front of a packed, standing-room-only crowd at BMS, the Bulldogs put on a dominant performance to end their season in style.
Batesville never trailed in the contest, jumping out to a 14-8 lead in the first quarter and extending their advantage as the game progressed. Lane Higham was the standout performer, leading all scorers with 14 points while also controlling the boards. Hank Bohman joined him in double figures with 10 points, while several other Bulldogs contributed key plays to secure the win.
Scoring Breakdown:
- Lane Higham: 14 points
- Hank Bohman: 10 points
- Jax Negovetich: 7 points
- RJ Schuerman: 6 points
- Beckett Jones: 5 points
- Isaac Deputy: 4 points
- Braden Hochstelter: 2 points
- Trenton Taylor: 1 point
Isaac Deputy provided two critical buckets in the second quarter to help widen the gap, while Braden Hochstelter and Trenton Taylor added late contributions to round out the scoring.
The Bulldogs close their remarkable season with an impressive 18-4 record, highlighted by their SEI Tournament Championship victory. This team’s resilience, teamwork, and skill have left a lasting mark on the program and the Batesville community.