McKaig, Sweet score in double figures, help Pioneer advance to sectional semis

Panthers blank Frontier in 2nd quarter

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Backup guard Drew McKaig scored eight of his team-high 11 points in the fourth quarter, and Caleb Sweet added 10 off the bench for the Pioneer boys basketball team in a 42-29 win over Frontier in a Class 1A, Sectional 52 quarterfinal at Tri-County Tuesday.

Pioneer improved to 8-15 and earned a semifinal matchup with South Newton (9-13), who received a bye, in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Dayton Hoover scored a game-high 12 points for the Falcons (6-17), who went one-and-done in the sectional for the third straight year.

Pioneer outscored Frontier 15-0 in the second quarter to build a 21-5 lead at halftime.

Pioneer has allowed 49 points per game this season, but they allowed just 28 ppg in two games against Frontier, both wins.

Christian Scott scored six of Pioneer’s seven points in the third quarter and finished with eight. Gavin Clem also knocked down two 3s and scored eight points.

Pioneer has won at least one sectional game in four straight seasons.

Pioneer 42, Frontier 29

FRONTIER (29) (6-17)

Harner 0 0-0 0, Hoover 3 4-4 12, White 0 0-0 0, Reedy 1 0-2 2, Schroeder 3 1-3 7, Yenk 1 0-0 2, Wagner 0 0-0 0, Delish 0 0-0 0, Turner 3 0-2 6, Mears 0 0-0 0

TEAM: 11 5-11 29

PIONEER (42) (8-15)

Brock Robinson 1 0-1 2, Gavin Clem 3 0-0 8, Christian Scott 3 0-0 8, Oscar Solano 1 1-4 3, Jacob Zeigler 0 0-0 0, Drew McKaig 2 6-8 11, Rylahn Toloza 0 0-0 0, Brayden Erickson 0 0-0 0, Caleb Sweet 3 2-4 10

TEAM: 13 9-17 42

Three-point field goals:

Frontier 2 (Hoover 2),

Pioneer 7 (Clem 2, Scott 2, Sweet 2, McKaig)

Total fouls: Frontier 13, Pioneer 12

Fouled out: Solano (PIO)

Score by quarters

Frontier 5 0 10 14 – 29

Pioneer615714–42