Alex Rinehart Returns in WC Win

Alex Rinehart, out with an injury from football, returned for Tuesday’s boys game between Worth County’s Junior High and North Nodaway. He showed that he was a force to be reckoned with as Worth County pulled away for a 40-11 win against the Mustangs.

Damian Dailey threw up a prayer that went in for North Nodaway to start the scoring, but Alex Rinehart went backdoor after Aydan Gladstone kept a possession alive with an offensive glass. Jackson Runde saved another possession and Aydan Gladstone hit from the top of the key for a triple and Worth County was off to the races.

Jackson Runde, Alex Rinehart twice, and Aydan Gladstone all scored off steals while Gladstone scored off a Grant Cameron steal after Alex Rinehart pushed it ahead. Another Rinehart steal led to a Gladstone free throw; then, Grant Cameron hit Rinehart for a baseline three and Aydan hit him in transition after a Jackson Runde steal. Finally, Aydan Gladstone went backdoor after Rinehart pushed one ahead to make it 23-2 after one quarter.

Alex Rinehart added a completely new dimension to Worth County’s basketball team; instead of having to grind out wins like they have most of the year, Coach Bryce Schafer was able to get his younger players some experience.

The reserves played much of the second quarter as Damian Dailey got a steal and Jeremiah Dobbins got loose on an inbounds play to cut Worth County’s lead to 25-6 at the break.

But then Worth County started pulling away in the third quarter again. Alex Rinehart scored off a drive and then Jackson Runde hit Jackson smith to make it 29-6 early. Hunter Carlson connected off a prayer from the right wing, but then Alex Rinehart broke down the North Nodaway defense with a crossover to spark another run. Josh Freed hit Grant Cameron and Jace Cousatte for 3-pointers and Lucas Wake hit a free throw to make it 38-8 after three quarters. Levi Cassavaugh hit from the left wing off a Freed kickout to give Worth County its biggest lead of 40-8 with 4:30 left.

Alex Rinehart had 17 for Worth County. Aydan Gladstone had 10, Levi Cassavaugh, Jace Cousatte, and Grant Cameron all had 3, and Jackson Runde and Jackson Smith all had 2.