WARTBURG | Oneida out-scored Wartburg 40-9 in the second and third quarters here Friday, paving the way to a 63-27 district win over the Bulldogs to resume play after the Christmas break.
Oneida, which saw its return to play delayed by Morgan County Schools' decision to cancel games earlier in the week due to rain, looked like a team anxious to get back on the floor. Mason Keeton scored 21 points and Grady Keeton scored 12, as the Indians pulled away for the win.
Wartburg scored 10 points in the first quarter and kept things close early, trailing only 15-10 as the second quarter began.
But the Bulldogs managed just nine points across the next two quarters combined, as Oneida quickly put the game away.
Jeric Huling had four steals, and Hayden Brawner blocked three shots in addition to pulling down a team-high eight rebounds, to help the Indians' defensive effort.
Wartburg shot a paltry 17% from the field and turned the ball over 24 times against Oneida's defense.
The Indians, by contrast, recorded 14 steals.
It was a relatively cold-shooting night for Oneida, which hit only 8% of its 3-point shot attempts and went 38% from the field overall. But the Indians made up for it with their defense and free throw shooting. OHS was 16 of 21 from the free throw line. Wartburg was nine of 15 from the line.
Oneida used a 25-6 second quarter run to turn the five-point first quarter lead into a 40-16 blowout at halftime. The third quarter wasn't much better for Wartburg, as the Indians went on a 15-3 run before turning to their bench.
The win was the Indians' sixth straight in regular season play, as Oneida remained unbeaten in District 4-A play.
ONEIDA (63): M. Keeton 21, Gr. Keeton 12, Brawner 7, Huling 5, Spradlin 4, Bell 4, Morland 2, Limburg 2, Privett 2, Gilbert 2, Ga. Keeton 2.
WARTBURG (27): Wilson 9, Blalock 6, Crouch 4, Goode 3, Swint 2, Robinson 1, Francis 1, Potter 1.
