Border Wars

by Krista Norton | December 19, 2024

The annual Border Wars Tournament is in the books. This year was larger than last year with 36 total games over three days.

Kansas took on Colorado. Coming in from Colorado were teams from Eads, Las Animas, Stratton, Cheyenne Wells, and Lamar (JV only). Kansas teams included Stanton County, Elkhart, Greeley County, Syracuse, and Garden City (JV only).

According to the Athletic Director, Brandon McIntosh, preparation has been ongoing since last year. “There are a lot of small details from roster collection directions for teams, locating officials, workers, programs, pass lists, buses, officials, coach parking, and concessions,” he said, “All who did a tremendous job and had the assistance of Mr. Hampton with meeting buses and showing teams to locker rooms.” 

Boys head coach, Vance Keller knew starting out that they were facing a tough team in Cheyenne Wells. “They had a couple returning starters and were the 1A State Champs last year in Colorado.”

But the Syracuse Bulldog Varsity teams came through with wins on Tuesday. Varsity Boys won 40-31 against Cheyenne Wells. Varsity Girls won 43-34.

He felt the boys did a great job defensively in slowing down their six-foot nine-inch center and returning point guard. “It was a great win to start the tournament.” 

Next, they faced Las Animas, “They were a scrappy team and had us facing some adversity in the beginning of the game,” said Keller, “Our bench guys came in huge for us and lit a spark to turn it around. I think the boys did a good job overcoming being down 11-0 and ending with a win!” 

Saturday night versus Stratton, the preseason number four team in 1A in Colorado. “But the boys came out so fired up and did not want to get down like we did the night before,” said Keller.

 
“It was an amazing start in getting a 16-0 lead and they never let off the gas  I’m proud of the way we grew as a team, the positivity that we had, and the effort overall!  I’m very excited for the season!” added Keller. 
“Our JV boys also got to play in a couple games this weekend, which was awesome! They too played very well and were very successful,” said Keller, “They will be a fun team to watch grow this season.”
“Hats off to Mr. McIntosh and crew for a successful tournament with so many games being played last week!” said Keller.

McIntosh echoed that by saying, “Shout out to our custodial staff throughout the tournament who at a drop of the hat would tackle anything that came up.” 
Girls head coach Casey Finlay commented as well. “I always look forward to Border Wars week.  This event gives us an opportunity to play some tough, physical teams from Colorado and find out where we are early in the season.      

I appreciate the addition of the JV games, this gives the younger girls an opportunity to get a couple game experiences in that have not been available in the past.  Overall, I thought we played well and I am seeing us do things we are stressing in practice.  I am proud of the girls, their efforts and growth as a team this week.” 
This is the first-year junior varsity has been included in the tournament. “Adding JV allowed two additional games before Christmas,” said McIntosh. JV Boys finished 2-0 and JV Girls finished 1-1. 
“Syracuse JV teams are scheduled for Wichita County and Elkhart, but the girls will only play a half game against both,” explained McIntosh. “We don’t know what every team in the future has in terms of JV and C numbers which could mean reduced opportunities for student-athletes.”

“They want to play! They have been practicing for two and a half weeks, they play one game, one week off and hope to play in a couple games,” added McIntosh. 

Going into Christmas break with very few game opportunities is difficult for young athletes, “We are trying to close the gap, working to develop our younger players and give opportunities to as well,” said Mcintosh. 
“Our athletes did a great job competing. I am proud of their grit and effort,” said McIntosh. “Coaches are doing a great job competing and making adjustments and the student section did a great job bringing the spirit.”

Varsity Boys won 40-31 against Cheyenne Wells.
Leading the Bulldogs was Charlie Keller with 11 points, Brody Keller had 10, Alvaro Leyva had 7, Jesmar Molina had 6, Cavin Housholder, Johnny TeVelde and Freddy Vazquez each added 2.

C Keller 1,6-8,11 B Keller 3,1-2,10 Leyva 2,0-0,7 Molina 3,0-0,6 Housholder 1,0-0,2 TeVelde 1,0-0,2 Vazquez 1,0-0,2.
3 point goals - C Keller 1, B Keller 1, Leyva 1.
Syracuse  13  10   8  9 = 40  
CW         8   7   6  10 = 31   

Varsity Girls won over Cheyenne Wells 43-34
Sophie Gould led the lady bulldogs with 18 points, Emily Pena-Montes had 11, Hailey Hampton had 6, Kimber Thomeczek had 5, Denise Alcantar had 2, Brisa Montes had 1.

Gould 6,0-0,18 Pena-Montes 0,2-2,11 Hampton 2,2-2,6 Thomeczek 2,1-4,5 Alcantar 1,0-2,2 B Montes 0,0-1,1 Paige Haslett 0,0-2,0.
3 point goals - Pena Montes 3, Gould 2.
Syracuse  14  10  6  13 = 43
Cheyenne W  8  8   7  11 = 34

The JV girls beat Las Animas 38-10 and came up short against Stratton 19-22.  

Leading the JV girls in scoring against Las Animas was Dayami Leyva with 17 points, Peyton TeVelde had 7, Nayeli Leyva and Adalyn Urie each had 5, Clare Loder added 4.
D Leyva 4,3-4,17 TeVelde 2,0-0,7 N Leyva 2,1-2,5 Urie 1,3-3,5 Loder 2,0-4,4.
3 point goals - D Leyva 2, TeVelde 1.
Syracuse     8  15   6   9 = 38
Las Animas 0    2   2   6 = 10

Leading the JV girls against Stratton was Dayami Leyva with 7 points, Rylan Bloyd and Peyton TeVelde each had 3, Sandra Einspahr, Nayali Leyva and Clare Loder each added 2.
D Leyva 2,3-4,7 Bloyd 1,1-2,3 TeVelde 0,0-0,3 Einspahr 1,0-0,2 N Leyva 0,2-2,2 Loder 1,0-4,2.
3 point goals - TeVelde 1.
Syracuse 2   8   4   5 = 19
Stratton   6  10  3   3 = 22

JV Boys beat Las Animas 54-32 on Friday and Stratton 65-37 on Sat.  
    Leading the JV Bulldogs against Las Animas was Daniel Apodaca with 13 points, Jhonatan Avila had 10, Jarret Scott had 9, Brock Keller had 5, Gabriel Gomez, Isaiah Moreno and Aaron Rivera each had 4, Jonathan Perez had 3, Alex Houstma added 2.

Apodaca 6,1-2,13 Avila 3,4-4,10 Scott 3,3-6,9 Keller 1,0-0,5 Gomez 2,0-0,4 Moreno 2,0-2,4 Rivera 2,0-0,4 Perez 0,0-0,3 Houstma 1,0-0,2.
3 point goals - Keller 1, Perez 1.
Syracuse     9 12 19 14 = 54
Las Animas 7   7   9   9 = 32

     Leading the JV bulldogs against Stratton was Brock Keller with 19 points, Jarret Scott had 17, Daniel Apodaca and Jhonatan Avila each had 6, Aaron Rivera had 3, Isaiah Morena and Jonathan Perez each added 2.  
Keller 5,0-0,19 Scott 5,1-2,17 Apodaca 3,0-0,6 Avila 3,0-0,6 Rivera 0,0-0,3 Moreno 1,0-0,2 Perez 1,0-0,2.
3 point goals - Keller 3, Scott 2, Rivera 1.
Syracuse  21  11  15  8 = 65
Stratton      8   8  13  8 = 37

Final team results:
Varsity Boys
Syracuse 3-0 (+67)
Greeley Co 3-0 (+46)
Stanton Co 2-1
Cheyenne Wells 1-2 (-11)
Elkhart 1-2 (-15)
Eads 1-2 (-17)
Stratton 1-2 (-19)
Las Animas 0-3

Varsity Girls
Stratton 3-0
Eads 2-1 (+41)
Greeley Co 2-1 (+27)
Syracuse 2-1 (+19)
Cheyenne Wells 1-2 (+21)
Stanton Co 1-2 (-13)
Las Animas 1-2 (-39)
Elkhart 0-3

All-Border Wars Team
Boys
Lincoln Shafer- Greeley Co (Sr)
David Crane- Stanton Co (Jr)
Corey Hill- Cheyenne Wells (Jr)
Alvaro Leyva- Syracuse (Sr)
Brody Keller- Syracuse (Sr)

Girls
Sophia Isenbart- Stratton (Jr)
Avery Scott- Stanton Co (Jr)
Kimber Thomeczek- Syracuse (Jr)
Jadyn Mangan- Greeley Co (Sr)
Clare Miltenberger- Stratton (Sr)