Essex Boys Basketball
Essex's Will Roberts (15) defends as Heartland Christian's Malachi Gray (3) drives the ball inside in the second quarter during the MAC Shootout at the Mid-America Center on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.
Essex's Ben King (21) defends as Heartland Christian's Sam Gray (11) looks to pass in the first quarter during the MAC Shootout at the Mid-America Center on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.
Essex junior Dominic Kirk looks for a teammate to pass the ball to Thursday, Dec. 4, during a home loss to Heartland Christian.
Isaiah Sholes scored 29 points and collected 12 rebounds, leading the Essex boys basketball team to their second win in a row, 66-57 in overtime Monday over Murray.
The Trojans led 7-3 after the first quarter and 29-17 at halftime. The Mustangs trimmed the deficit to 42-38 entering the final period, which saw Murray outscore Essex 11-7 to force overtime. The Trojans scored 17 points over the final four minutes to earn the win.
Sholes added seven assists, six blocks and two steals. Damien Aradanas also had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds while adding five steals and three assists. Ashon Kline also scored in double figures with 12 points. He also collected three assists, three steals and three rebounds.
Will Roberts and Dominic Kirk scored six points each for Essex with Roberts recording nine rebounds, six steals and two assists and Kirk six steals and two assists. Jesse Johnson-Wityk collected two rebounds for the Trojans.
Essex vs. Fremont-Mills
Essex senior Isaiah Sholes secured another double-double, but the Essex boys basketball team couldn’t earn its third straight win, falling 60-46 Tuesday at home against Fremont-Mills.
Sholes scored 23 points and recorded 12 rebounds while adding three blocks.
Fremont-Mills won each of the four quarters by a small margin, leading 12-7 after the first period, 29-21 at halftime and 44-34 going into the final quarter.
The Knights improved to 3-3 on the season, 3-1 in the Corner Conference.
Will Roberts scored nine points for the Trojans while adding six assists, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Dominic Kirk scored six points and contributed two steals, two rebounds and two assists.
Ashon Kline and Brody Kirchert scored three points each with Kline adding three rebounds and two assists for Essex. Ben King added two points and four rebounds. Jesse Johnson-Wityk recorded two rebounds.
Essex vs. Heartland Christian
For the second time this season, the Essex boys basketball team lost a close game to Heartland Christian, this one coming by a 42-34 score Thursday, at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs to kick off the MAC Shootout.
The Trojans trailed 21-14 at halftime and 32-24 after three quarters. Heartland Christian put it away with a 7-0 run early in the fourth quarter. Essex made a late push, but it wasn’t enough.
Isaiah Sholes led the Trojans with 19 points and 11 rebounds while adding six steals and three assists.
Will Roberts scored six points for the Trojans while also contributing seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Dominic Kirk knocked down the only triple of the day for the Trojans for his only three points. He recorded two steals and two assists.
Ben King, Jesse Johnson-Wityk and Dayton Dumler all scored two points for the Trojans with King securing four rebounds and Johnson-Wityk two. Ashon Kline finished with four rebounds, four steals and two assists. Brody Kirchert added four steals and two rebounds.
Heartland Christian improved to 3-4 with the win while Essex enters Christmas Break at 2-6.
