Helias falls to Rolla in district final

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. - The Helias Crusaders clawed away at a Rolla lead after trailing 11 points in the first quarter but never led in the game as they ended the season with a 65-55 loss in the Class 4 District 10 championship.

Kobe Wands powered the Bulldogs with 27 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter.

Helias turned the ball over eight times in the first quarter and was buried by an early 18-7 deficit. Rolla scored seven of the game's first eight points and the Crusaders had just two field goals in the quarter.

Helias kept pace in the second quarter, getting to within seven after back-to-back Sam Husting 3-pointers, but the Crusaders ultimately entered halftime with a familiar 11-point deficit.

Senior Hale Hentges catalyzed an aggressive Helias attack coming out of the locker room. The Crusaders pounded the boards, and Hentges reached the free-throw line six times early in the quarter.

Fouls piled up quickly for both teams, and the Crusaders used a 12-0 run to come within 37-35 before Carter Wands drew a foul on a play that resulted in two technicals. The fouls for Hentges and Rolla senior Caleb Copeland offset, Carter Wands hit one-of-two free throws, and the Crusaders would not come any closer to a district championship.

Following a run of its own, Rolla took a 43-35 advantage into the fourth quarter, and any Helias hopes of mounting a comeback were squashed by Kobe Wands, who sunk nine-of-10 free-throw attempts in the final eight minutes.

The Crusaders were playing with three players with four fouls apiece at one point, and Isiah Sykes and Adam Bax both fouled out.

Sykes paced the Crusaders with 16 points, Husting had 12 - all off 3s - and Collin Caywood scored 11.

Caleb Copeland pitched in 12 points for the Bulldogs, all of which came in the first half.

Helias shot just 34.6 percent from the field, compared to Rolla's mark of 48.9 percent. The Crusaders struggled at the free-throw line, hitting just 10-of-23 free-throw attempts.

The two teams faced back in January with the Bulldogs winning that contest as well, 60-46 in Rolla.

Rolla (25-2) faces St. Francis Borgia in quarterfinal action on Tuesday.

Helias ends its season with a 21-6 record.