By Jacob Heid

Sports Writer

BOWLER – After sophomore Ayden Phillips posted 25 points in a 60-52 loss to Pacelli on Feb. 9, the Almond-Bancroft big man returned on Feb. 14 with another 25-point performance. 

This time, he did it on the road at Bowler in a 74-29 win.

The Eagles have looked to Phillips as the first option all season long. It is his twelfth game with 20-plus points, averaging nearly 20 points per game this season. 

Phillips almost hit that mark in the first half vs. Bowler. 

He made eight shots down low and hit a free throw in the opening 18 minutes. 

His total grew to 17 as the Eagles led 41-13 at the break. Almond-Bancroft dominated the defensive end and had plenty of contribution on offense. 

Five different players scored in the first half besides Phillips. Sophomore Brody Dernbach contributed eight first-half points, while senior Xander Miner had six points of his own. 

Juniors TJ Lamb and Shane Klismith each provided four points of offense, and Clarence Pratt had one 2-point basket. 

The second half had a similar offensive output, with the Eagles already holding a substantial lead heading into halftime. Almond-Bancroft added another 33 points in the second half coming from eight players. 

Phillips and Lamb combined for 15 points, bumping their game totals to 25 and 11, respectively. 

Almond-Bancroft wraps up the regular season with a home game vs. Gresham Community on Friday, Feb. 17, at Almond-Bancroft High School.

They will then travel to Wild Rose for the regular season finale on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 7:15 p.m.