Rockets Run Away From Mustangs in Second Half

West Nodaway’s junior high ran away from North Nodaway’s junior high boys Thursday as they got a 57-37 win. North Nodaway got some good games from some of their supporting cast as Preston Hansen hit double figures with 10 and Mason Casner had 7. But the three-headed monster of Riley Blay, Kayden Conn, and Michael Goff was too much.

The team speed of West Nodaway was obvious from the beginning. North Nodaway started off well as Brice Trimble hit a 3-pointer, Ethan Fry had a free throw, and Mason Casner got loose in transition to put the Mustangs up 6-4. But the Rockets were swarming and pressing, denying the inbounds passes, and North Nodaway was having trouble getting it in similar to the Worth County game Monday. They racked up three five-seconds calls during one span late in the first and early in the second as West Nodaway moved out to a 12-8 lead early in the second.

Preston Hansen was left alone and hit a 3-pointer to cut it to 12–11, but then Michael Goff started operating at will in the post and the Mustangs fell behind 22-11 at one point. Aydan Blackford got the hot hand as he scored seven during a two minute stretch and Ethan Fry added a drive to cut it to 24-20, but then Michael Cook hit a shot at the buzzer to make it 26-20.

But then the new half started off well for the Mustangs as Casner started off the scoring with a 3-pointer and Blackford followed with a steal and Goff picked up his fourth foul. Riley Blay hit a drive, but a free throw and an inside shot from Hansen knotted it up at 28 with four minutes left in the third.
But despite the Rockets racking up fouls, with Blay picking up his fourth foul and Andrew Lightner his third, they started pulling away again as Blay started going to the rack at will. Back to back threes by Kayden Conn, the second one with Casner in his face at the buzzer, put West Nodaway back up by 10 at 42-32.

By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, all hell broke loose and West Nodaway was beating the Mustangs up and down the floor as they poured on 15 more points while North Nodaway could only muster five in the final period.

Aydan Blackford had 12 to lead the Mustangs. Preston Hansen had 10, Mason Casner 7, Brice Trimble 5, and Ethan Fry 3.

Preston Hansen had 8 boards. Ethan Fry had 6, Aydan Blackford 4, Mason Casner 2, and Brice Trimble 1.

Aydan Blackford had 6 assists, while Brice Trimble and Ethan Fry had 2.

Preston Hansen had 3 tips while Brice Trimble had 2 and Owen Martin, Mason Casner, and Ethan Fry had 1.

Preston Hansen and Aydan Blackford had 4 steals each. Brice Trimble and Mason Casner had 2 each, while Ethan Fry had 1.