Red Oak eliminated by Underwood

 TREYNOR — The 2014-15 season for the Red Oak boys’ basketball team ended last Monday in Treynor when they lost 54-34 to the Underwood Eagles to open district play.

Red Oak (7-15) trailed by single-digits at halftime, but Underwood was able to pull ahead in the second half and advance to the 2A district semifinals.

“Sometimes the ball bounces your way and sometimes it doesn’t,” Red Oak boys basketball coach Theo Fundermann said. “Basketball is not an easy game. It’s a difficult game and, at times, a low percentage game.”

Both teams struggled to score in the first half as Red Oak had 13 points in the half.

“The guys executed when they needed to execute. They got great looks. [The shots] just didn’t fall,” Fundermann said.

Underwood sank a near half-court shot at the buzzer to take a 22-13 lead into the break.

Both teams struggled to score in the third quarter, but Underwood continued to add to the lead, extending it to 33-22.

“We came out in the third quarter and had our opportunities there, too,” Fundermann said. “We weren’t able to take advantage of our opportunities tonight and Underwood took advantage of theirs.”

Underwood took control in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Tigers 21-12.

Underwood advanced to the district semifinals, but lost 67-39 Thursday night to Treynor.

Red Oak was led by Jesse Taylor, who scored 16 points for the Tigers. Ryan Lundgren was the only other player with double-digit points, recording 10.

Weston Rolenc had three points, while Conner Janksy and Brendon Birt each scored two. Gil Cooper had one point.

Birt saw limited time in what would be his final game in a Red Oak uniform. Prior to the game, Birt injured his knee during a weekend practice.

He played most of the first quarter and then sat the rest of the game.

“I didn’t want to see anything else happen to him,” Fundermann said. “Not having Brendon out there is really difficult.”

Birt is one of five senior losses for Red Oak. They will also be losing Gavin French, who went down with a knee injury of his own during the Jan. 26 win against Southwest Valley, ending his season.

They’ll also lose Tanner Gilliland, Cooper and Nick Carlson.