The host Flying Geese opened play at the Wally Keller Thanksgiving Shootout Monday night and fell to the Bureau Valley Storm, 53-38.

Bureau Valley had a slim 10-7 lead after the first quarter of play. Senior Landon Sauer hit a three-pointer and junior Zeb Rashid had a spin move in the lane in the first frame. 

The Geese outscored BV 11-9 in the second quarter to even things out at 19-all at the half. Rashid scored eight of Wethersfield’s 11 points, including a long range buzzer beater for his second three-pointer of the quarter. 

The Storm started to pull away in the third quarter and they outscored the Geese 34-19 in the second half. Landon Hulsing had seven points for Bureau Valley and Kellan Keane hit two treys for the Geese in the third quarter.

Senior point guard Dillon Horrie hit a three-pointer and scored five of Wethersfield’s seven fourth quarter points. Corban Chimm had seven of BV’s 14 fourth quarter points, including a three-pointer. 

Chimm led all scorers with 17 points and Hulsing added 16 on the night. Rashid and Keane had 10 and nine, respectively for the Geese. Sauer and Horrie each added seven.

The Geese were a little rough around the edges in their first outing, but Coach Tom McGunnigal is optimistic they can straighten some of those things out as the season progresses. 

“We’ve only been together as a full group for three practices, so we’re nowhere near what we’ll become,” said McGunnigal. 

“The one thing I believe about my guys is that they’re competitors and they know how to win,” added McGunnigal. “Right now it’s getting off of the football legs and grass and into basketball shape and on the hardwood.”

McGunnigal would like to work on a few things before the team’s next game, but that’s a luxury he doesn’t have. “We’re learning on the fly,” stressed the coach.

“We have a full group of athletes that need to be athletic. Exactly what that looks like when it’s put together will be what we work to figure out over the next few weeks.”

In other tourney action Monday:

Behind Luke Rewerts’ 25 points, the Stark County Rebels downed Annawan 50-38. Gabe Sims led the Braves with eight points.

Stark County shut out Annawan 17-0 in the first quarter and led 38-22 after three. A 16-point fourth quarter brought the Braves to within 12 at the end.

Elmwood had a one-point lead after one quarter, but managed only one free throw in the second frame and fell behind Putnam County by 12 points at halftime.

Putnam County added to their lead in the second half, outscoring Elmwood 28-16 en route to a 58-35 win.

The Panthers’ Orlando Harris tied Elmwood himself, putting up 35 points.