By Landon Duester
The Mustang men’s basketball team was looking for a bounce-back week after splitting its first two games of the season against Red Cloud and Deshler. The Mustangs traveled to Axtell on December 9, where the game appeared competitive early, with Silver Lake holding a 10-4 lead after the first quarter. Heading into the second quarter, the Mustangs knew adjustments were needed, and they responded in a big way. Silver Lake went on an offensive run to take a commanding 32–10 lead into halftime. Senior Landon Duester led all scorers with 23 points, while fellow senior Beau Bonifas added 12. Hayden Karr led the team on the boards and recorded a double-double (10 points and 10 rebounds) in the win. With balanced scoring and strong defense, the Mustangs pulled away for a dominant 70-16 victory over Axtell.
Following the road win, the Mustangs had a few days of practice to prepare for Elba at home. Elba brought a new roster and posed more of a challenge than in past seasons, but Silver Lake was ready from the opening tip. The Mustangs jumped out to a 45–12 halftime lead and remained composed in the second half, continuing to extend their advantage. Once again, the seniors led the scoring effort. Duester finished with a team-high 25 points, while Bonifas and Jaxon tenBensel each contributed 12. With another strong offensive performance, the Mustangs cruised to a 65-24 win, marking their second straight victory by more than 40 points. Head coach Shaun Fisher praised his team’s progress following the early-season split. “The biggest improvement that I saw from the last two games would be our quick ball movement on offense and our confidence on both ends of the court,” Fisher said. “The guys really started to play well together and make some plays.” Looking ahead, the Mustangs face a busy week on the road, traveling to Gibbon on Tuesday, Kenesaw on Friday, and Hastings College to face Fullerton on Saturday. When asked what the team needs to do to remain successful during the demanding stretch, Coach Fisher emphasized focus and teamwork. “We will need to stay disciplined on defense and patient on offense,” Fisher said. “Our defense has done a great job of shutting offenses down. Our offense still needs some work, but we are getting there. Guys need to remain confident and play as a team.” With momentum building, Mustangs are confident in their ability to have another great week.