CMB boys can’t slow down potent Hawks

BAXTER — After losing to the Collins-Maxwell/Baxter boys basketball team on a game-winning shot in the final seconds earlier this season, South Hamilton came out with a lot more purpose in the return matchup Friday night.

It was one of the better offensive performances of the year for the Hawks.

South Hamilton shot 60 percent from the floor, made 8-of-14 from the 3-point line and hit 14-of-17 from the free-throw line during a 74-49 road win during Heart of Iowa Conference action.

“They spread the court a little bit more tonight,” CMB coach Scott Brummel said. “That allowed (Collin) Hill to get more opportunities going to the basket. He got going and then found some open guys from outside. He passed it really well tonight, too.

“We fixed some stuff at halftime, but then they found some open shooters in the second half. It was tough to cover everybody up.”

The Raiders fell behind early and never recovered. They trailed 20-10 after one and 40-22 at halftime.

Junior Brady Kemp was the only CMB player to reach double-figures as he finished with 16 points.

CMB made 48 percent of its shots, but hit just 4-of-16 from long range.

Senior Hunter Gunderson scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds, while senior Brad Ritter added eight points and three boards in his first start of the year.

Brummel started all five of his seniors for Senior Night.

Trevor Thalacker scored three points and Kyle Crady added two in their first starts of the season.

“It was good to get Brad Ritter a start,” Brummel said. “He certainly would have figured into the mix at the start of the year, but the injury was tough.

“I am happy for all five of them but was really glad that Brad got first run tonight. If anybody deserves it, he does.”

Three of the Hawks’ eight treys came in the first few minutes as Conner Hill got them started and Marco Balderas canned back-to-back 3-pointers to put the visitors up 13-2.

After that, the only time in the game when CMB didn’t trail by more than double-figures was after a Creighton Caple 3-pointer early in the second quarter.

“They kept the pressure up defensively,” Brummel said. “They got up and guarded us. They realized that pressure gives us trouble at times. We didn’t start our offense from where we needed to start it from because of how they were guarding us.”

Collin Hill led four South Hamilton (8-8 overall, 6-6 in the HOIC) players in double figures with 17 points, while Conner Hill chipped in 14. Trey Woodall and Balderas had 11 each.

The Raiders (2-14, 2-11) have lost four in a row, while the Hawks got back on track after losing three of their last four.

CMB plays at 7:30 p.m. Monday at undefeated and Class 1A No. 10 Grand View Christian.

South Hamilton 20-20-18-16—74

Collins-Maxwell/Baxter 10-12-17-10—49

South Hamilton (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Balderas 4/3-0-2-11, Quam 1/1-0-2-3, Klemp 3-1-5-7, Coy 1-0-0-2, Ullestad 1-0-0-2, Woodall 2/1-5-0-10, Peters 1-2-2-4, Berg 2-0-5-4, Collin Hill 7-/1-2-1-17, Conner Hill 4/2-2-0-12, Wynkoop 1-0-1-2. Totals: 27/8-12-18-74.

CMB (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): McWhirter 0-1-3-1, Stover 1/1-0-3-3, Gunderson 3-3-3-9, Kemp 6/2-2-2-16, Clapper 2-1-2-5. Caple 1/1-0-0-3, Thalacker 1-1-0-3, Ritter 2-4-1-8, Crady 1-0-1-2. Totals: 17/4-12-15-49.