MONTEZUMA — The Colfax-Mingo boys’ basketball team significantly narrowed the deficit gap with state-ranked Montezuma on Tuesday night.
Earlier this season, the Class 1A No. 7 Braves jumped out to a 19-8 lead in the first quarter and never looked back in a 62-34 win in Colfax.
The Tigerhawks flipped the script Tuesday. They led by three after one quarter and stayed in front by a point at halftime. But the Braves stayed unbeaten on the year after outscoring their visitors by seven in the second half during a 63-57 win in South Iowa Cedar League play.
“This was a very competitive, high-level high school basketball game,” Colfax-Mingo coach John Borts said. “Our effort was good in the third quarter, but we just turned it over too much and couldn’t get a few shots to go down.”
Colfax-Mingo trailed by two and had the ball with 30 seconds to play, but couldn’t pull even. Montezuma hit a few free throws in the final seconds to win by six.
Sophomore Jarod Nichols had a team-high 15 points and seven rebounds to lead the Tigerhawks, who dropped to 10-6 overall and 9-5 in SICL play.
Colin Lourens scored 12 points and had six rebounds, Jacob Lietz chipped in 13 points and Jared Myers also reached double-figures in the loss.
Brody McKeag had a game-high 21 points, four assists and four steals for the Braves, which improved to 16-0 overall and 14-0 in SICL action. Dakota Strong had 15 points, Zach Townsend chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds and Logan Price scored 13.
The Tigerhawks’ next game is 7:30 p.m. Friday at BGM. The girls kick off the doubleheader at 6 p.m.
The Colfax-Mingo girls basketball team lost to 1A No. 15 Montezuma, 56-22, on Tuesday night.
The Braves, winners of 12 straight, improved to 17-1 overall and 13-1 in SICL play. Colfax-Mingo drops to 5-12 overall and 5-9 in conference play.