Despite an excellent start, the Exira-EHK Spartans boys’ basketball team fell to the Ar-We-Va Rockets 69-56 on Thursday night. Despite the score being tied at the half, the Rockets took control of the game in the third quarter and never looked back. Although Exira-EHK’s effort never faltered, it was too much to overcome.

Looking to end a skid, the Spartans came out of the gate with something to prove. Josh Nelson was all over the floor. He scored the first five points of the game, rebounded well, and played tough defense. Nelson and the rest of the Spartans shot lights out from beyond the arc in the first half. Exira-EHK hit seven three-points in the first two quarters. Nelson knocked down three while Austin Rasmussen grabbed two. However, Ar-We-Va’s Blayne Smith kept the Rockets in the game knocking down five threes of his own. After a back-and-forth affair in the closing minutes, the teams entered the half deadlocked at 29.

From the opening play of the second half, it was clear the Rockets’ intensity had changed. Not only did Ar-We-Va’s play improve, but Exira-EHK’s shots stopped falling. The Spartans went through a four-minute scoring drought early in the third, allowing the Rockets to build a 10-point lead by the end of the quarter. Although the Spartans battled back to bring the score as close as nine, it would not be enough as Ar-We-Va pulled away to pick up their ninth win of the season. Smith led the game in scoring with 26 points, while Nelson and Rasmussen weren’t far behind, finishing with 24 and 19 points respectively. Despite the loss, head coach Tony Santistaben liked his team’s effort in the first half.

In his eyes, the difference in the game was the halftime adjustments Ar-We-Va made along with their ability to force takeaways.

It is a quick turnaround for the Spartans as they face Boyer Valley at home Friday. Santistaben knows his team will continue to put forth a solid effort.

Tipoff for the game against Boyer Valley is scheduled for 7:30 pm.