COLFAX — The Colfax-Mingo boys’ basketball team may have played much better in the season opener Tuesday than it did at any point during last year’s winless campaign.
The Tigerhawks still have a lot to work on, but they trailed by just a point with 4 minutes to go in the first half against Greene County before ultimately losing 75-60 in the home opener.
Jared Myers finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and three assists and Colin Laurens added 12 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks, but the Tigerhawks missed 21 shots in the lane in the first half and turned it over 21 times in the loss.
“We did a lot of nice things for a first game,” said Colfax-Mingo coach John Borts. “We looked way more like a varsity basketball team, too.
“We had plenty of chances to win the game but missed too many shots in the lane and we have to take care of the ball better. We also have to get better defensively.”
Greene County led 21-15 after one quarter and 37-33 at halftime. Colfax-Mingo gaveup two quick buckets in the final seconds of the second quarter to lose momentum, and Greene County outscored the Tigerhawks 38-27 in the final two quarters.
Freshman Jarod Nichols had nine points and 15 rebounds in his varsity debut and Jacob Lietz also collected nine points and dished out six assists.
Sophomore Trey Tucker led the visitors with 28 points.
“We would let them get ahead in the first half and then rally back,” Borts said. “They shoot the 3 pretty well and we just had trouble slowing them down.”
Colfax-Mingo (0-1, 0-1) hits the road for the first time this season when it heads to South Hamilton (0-1, 0-1) Friday. The Hawks, who are the defending Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference champions, lost to Prairie City-Monroe in their opener Tuesday.
Contact Troy Hyde at
641-792-3121 ext. 6536 or thyde@newtondailynews.com