North Nodaway overcame a scoring barrage from Devin Hall and DeKalb, getting their second win in as many games Monday 61-47 in the opening round of the PVI. Aydan Blackford, healthy for once after the end of the football season, hung 29 points as he and the Mustangs won a scoring duel over Hall, who had 27 points for the Tigers.
Last year, DeKalb only won one game and lost one of their
big guns, Zander Mattson, to graduation. But the numbers and excitement were
there for the Tigers, giving then 15 players for this year. The biggest problem
for their second year coach, Jonathan Wildhaber, was getting reps for all his
guys after playing the numbers game for so long. “It’s a good problem to have,”
he said before the game. Hall, who torched Northeast Nodaway for 33 points in a
losing effort last year, is back to try to lead the Tigers to respectability.
The first seven minutes of the game belonged to the
Mustangs, who established their half court trap and were able to get some
turnovers. Owen Martin went backdoor and got a pass from Ethan Fry, and then
Blackford got loose inside to make it 4-0. Hall’s drive cut it to 4-2, but
Blackford scored early and often, knocking down an inside shot, a baseline
shot, and then hitting two free throws after Owen Martin got a steal as the
Mustang lead grew to 10-2.
DeKalb got a push late in the first, getting a drive from
Gavin Moore, an NBA 3-pointer from Hall, and a drive from Kyle Funk to cut it
to 12-11 before Blackford’s drive at the buzzer made it 14-11.
Blackford’s play at the first quarter buzzer sparked the
Mustangs, who took control to start the second. Mason Casner cut inside and got
a pass from Blackford, and Mason added a three point play. Ethan Dry hit
Blackford for a drive and another three point play, and then Ethan Fry got on
the board with a transition basket and a 3-pointer to make it 26-11.
But DeKalb doesn’t give up easily; they keep coming at teams
even when they are way behind, and sure enough, Hall carried the team on his
shoulders, slashing to the rim, hitting a 3-pointer, and then grabbing a putback
to cut it to 30-18 late in the second. A similar burst by DeKalb two years ago
threw North Nodaway into panic mode, and they lost a 16 point lead and the game.
But this time, every time DeKalb threatened to make a game of it, North Nodaway
had an answer. This time, they started attacking the basket and getting to the
free throw line. Aydan Blackford had four free throws, Brice Trimble two, and
Blaine Clements one as the Mustangs built the lead up to 38-22 at the half.
Hall kept hitting for DeKalb in the third, but Owen Martin,
Mason Casner, and Ethan Fry all got on the board and the Mustangs led by as
much as 20 before taking a 49-32 lead going into the fourth.
But DeKalb had been there before last year against Worth
County, down 22 at one point before coming back and having a chance to force
overtime at the end before falling 47-46. Sure enough, Hall went off again,
hitting a free throw and two NBA 3-pointers to get the Tiger deficit down to
51-39 at the 6:42 mark, still plenty of time. But once again, North Nodaway
built the lead back up to 20 as Aydan Blackford scored off a drive, Mason
Casner got loose on an inbounds play, Brice Trimble hit a baseline shot, and
Mason Casner scored off a Trimble steal to make it 59-39.
Aydan Blackford had 29 points for the Mustangs. Mason Casner
had 12, Ethan Fry 8, Brice Trimble 6, and Owen Martin and Blaine Clements 3
each.
Blaine Clements had 1 block.
Aydan Blackford had 10 boards to complete a double double.
Owen martin had 8, Mason Casner 5, Blaine Clements 4, and Brice Trimble 3.
Brice Trimble had 7 assists. Aydan Blackford had 6, Mason
Casner 3, Blaine Clements and Ethan Fry 2, and Owen Martin 1.
Owen Martin had 3 tips. Brice Trimble had 2, and Aydan Blackford,
Ethan Fry, and Mason Casner 1 each.
Ethan Fry, Brice Trimble, Owen Martin, and Aydan Blackford
each had 3 steals. Mason Casner had 2 and Ridge Clements and Blaine Clements 1
each.
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