Van Buren County snapped a six-year drought in the Fox River Rivalry, dominating Davis County 68-31 on Saturday, January 17th, in a game that saw the Warriors establish complete control from start to finish.
Game Summary
After a relatively slow start that saw Van Buren County hold just a 2-0 lead through the first two minutes, the Warriors exploded for 21 points to close the first quarter with a commanding 23-4 advantage. The offensive onslaught continued in the second quarter, with Van Buren County appearing to score on nearly every possession. Despite the dominant 43-9 halftime lead, the Warriors fell just short of triggering the 35-point running clock before the break. That threshold was quickly established once the second half began, as Van Buren County extended the lead to 54-14 after three quarters before cruising to the 68-31 final.
Van Buren County’s Balanced Attack
Will Cocherell paced the Warriors with 21 points on an efficient 8-of-9 shooting, scoring 13 of his points in the second half. Jace Duncan contributed 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists, four steals, and a block in an all-around performance. Kinnick Millard added nine points and nine rebounds along with three steals.
Landry Loeffler scored all nine of his points in the first half while dishing out three assists and committing zero turnovers. Brandon Taylor also did his damage early, scoring all 10 of his points in the first half on 5-of-8 shooting while adding three assists and two steals. Cree Kite pulled down six rebounds to go with two points, an assist, a steal, and a block.
Off the bench, Colt Barber and Thomas Roberts each contributed three points. Jake Reid added two assists and two steals, while Kayden Simmons grabbed a rebound.
Davis County’s Efforts
Max Taylor led the Mustangs with nine points and six rebounds on 4-of-8 shooting. Bryson Sprouse and Peyton Schooley each added five points, with Sprouse also pulling down five rebounds and recording two steals. Josh Settles totaled four points and four rebounds, while Frankie Warren contributed four points.
Mason Simmons finished with two points, four rebounds, a steal, and an assist. Lane Grim added two points, three rebounds, and an assist. Hudson Humphrey didn’t score but contributed two rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
By the Numbers
Van Buren County shot an impressive 50.9% from the field (27-of-53) and connected on 13-of-31 three-point attempts. The Warriors dominated the tempo while committing just 11 turnovers, moving the ball efficiently with 16 assists. They pulled down 29 rebounds and recorded 13 steals while shooting just 1-of-6 from the free-throw line.
Davis County struggled offensively, shooting 23.5% from the field (12-of-51) and just 11.8% from three-point range (2-of-17). The Mustangs made 5-of-10 free throws and grabbed 28 rebounds but managed only five assists and six steals.
Rivalry Renewed
The victory marked Van Buren County’s first win in the Fox River Rivalry since 2020, ending a six-year drought against their county rival.
The Warriors improve to 4-11 and the Mustangs slip to 1-11 overall.
Photography courtesy of Kim Millard.
