Mount Ayr threatened to take control early as Tristan Holmes hit a triple right off the bat. But another 3-pointer went in and out and consecutive 3-pointers from Cade Allee prompted Mount Ayr skipper Bret Ruggles’ first time out.
It didn’t work as Jacob New scored off a backdoor layup, Drake Kinsella hit from the high post, and Mason Hawk scored off a backdoor look and a couple of free throws as the Tigers jumped to a 16-3 lead after one despite Ruggles burning another time out in a vain attempt to stop the run.
Worth County started getting sloppy on the defensive end and Mount Ayr finally found their rhythm, chipping away and closing to within 18-9. Worth County’s only basket was a pair of free throws from Isaac Alarcon off a pass from Drake Kinsella, who was working the high post to perfection Monday night. But Alarcon went off, converting a 3-point play and hitting a triple off a pass from Jacob New to put Worth County back in control.
Isaac Grose’s free throw cut it to 24-10, but the fact that they were focusing so hard on Cade Allee opened up the inside for the rest of the half. Mason Hawk scored from inside, Drake Kinsella had a pair of free throws and an and-one bucket, and Jacob New hit a 3-pointer for Worth County as they raised their lead to 34-10 at the half.
Mason Hawk, the relentless board crashing man, grabbed a putback and Jacob New banked home a 3-pointer to raise Worth County’s lead to 39-12 at the 6:10 mark. Coach Bryce Schafer had talked about starting off stronger in the third quarter, so this was an encouraging sign.
But all of a sudden, Ruggles, the Mount Ayr skipper, found something that worked as he went to an all-guard lineup; instead of walking it up and running the offense, they began using their speed and pushing it up the floor at every chance. Dawson Frost, a freshman, hit a 3-pointer to get himself going and that was all the spark he needed; with Frost as the spearhead, Mount Ayr was running up and down the floor at will, scoring baskets, and cutting into Worth County’s lead. Frost scored 11 out of Mount Ayr’s 20 points in the period. In the blink of an eye, Worth County’s lead went from 27 to 15 despite Hawk continuing to crash the boards and score for Worth County. Worth County was shorthanded as they lost Ryan McClellan in the first half (toe) and were struggling to adjust without their point guard.
Things were getting interesting with Worth County’s lead cut to 45-30 at the start of the fourth. But Mount Ayr ran out of steam as the fourth quarter started. They continued to try to spread it out, but Worth County did a much better job helping out on defense; two 3-pointers for Mount Ayr that would have gotten it closer than 15 were in and out and Worth County started finding the range again and Wayde Parman played some quality minutes on defense, seeing his first extended playing time of his career. Drake Kinsella hit from the high post and Isaac Alarcon scored in transition and got a putback to make it 51-30 and push it back over 20 again. Mason Hawk hit two free throws and added a putback, and Cade Allee scored off a pullup after a pass from Jacob New to make it 57-30 with under four minutes to go.
Mason Hawk had 20 for the Tigers. Isaac Alarcon had 12, Cade Allee 10, Drake Kinsella 9, and Jacob New 8.
The girls game was non-competitive as they faced the best team they will face all year as they fell to perennial powerhouse Mount Ayr 60-14. The Raiderettes featured Kelcie Shields, a six-footer who can touch the rim, who blocked three shots and altered many more as Worth County kept going to the rim only to be denied. They also had to deal with the play of Sam Stewart, a guard who came off the bench to wreak plenty of havoc; the scary thing is that she is only a freshman.
Regan Allee had 5 to lead the Tigers, Anna Gladstone had 3, Kaylee McElvain and Merrideth Spiers had 2, and Jessi Badell and Kristin New had 1 each.
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