***Kyra Galbraith is a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
To conclude 2025, the Flying Geese traveled to LaMoille High School to participate in the Holiday Classic Tournament on Dec. 29 through Dec. 31.
On Dec. 29, they began the tournament by going up against the Clippers of Amboy High School.
This game was another hard-fought one by the Geese. It began with both teams battling over possession and the lead. The first period ended with a three-point lead by the Clippers, by a score of 12-15.
The second period was an even more interesting period, with the Geese scoring 10 and the Clippers scoring 7, bringing the score by the end of the first half to a one-point lead for the Clippers, 21-22.
The second half was an intense one. Both teams played well but, in the end, the Clippers took the win with a final score of 40-44.
The Geese played hard and confidently in the second half, scoring numerous threes and twos.
The lead scorers for this game were senior Drew Hornback with 14, junior Reese Rumbold with 11 and junior Kruz Galbraith with 5.
On Dec. 30, the Geese returned to take on the LaMoille Lions for their second game of the tournament.
The game began with the Lions’ possession, where the ball was stolen by the Geese and given to Alejandro Garcia to make a lay-up, kick-starting the Geese.
The first period ended with a 5-point lead by the Geese, 14-9.
The second period continued in the Geese’s favor, where they scored 19 more and allowed 10, bringing the end of the half to a final score of 33-19.
As we have seen in the past, the second half of the games tends to make or break the Geese’s momentum and spirits — today, it made them.
The Geese played strongly, with great intensity throughout the whole second half. They ended the third period with a score of 45-24, and remained in the lead.
Their efforts on the court paid off, leaving them winners over the Lions. The game ended with a 36-point lead, and a score of 60-24.
The lead scorers for this game were junior Kruz Galbraith with 24, senior Drew Hornback with 17 and junior Collin Hodge with 9.
For their final game on Dec. 31, the Geese play Putnam County once again for the consolation championship.
The last time the Geese played Putnam County in the Wally Keller Tournament. It was an intense game– and this game was similar.
The game began with the Geese’s possession, where Garcia once again wasted no time before shooting and making the first points for the Geese.
Throughout the first period, both teams scored back and forth and ended with the Geese in the lead by 6 points, 16-10.
The second period went the same; the Geese were still in the lead with a score of 29-24.
As the second half arrived, the game started to shift. The Panthers were on fire with their shooting, handing the Geese another hard-fought yet unfortunate loss. The final score was 38-60.
The Panthers went home as the consolation champions.
The Galva Wildcats played the Polo Marcos for the tournament championship. Polo took home the win, with a final score of 56-39.
