PLEASANTVILLE — Pleasantville ripped out the hearts of the Colfax-Mingo boys basketball team last season when the Trojans completed a fourth-quarter comeback by hitting a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer in Colfax.
Thursday night, the Tigerhawks once again built a lead against the Trojans. This time, Colfax-Mingo didn’t let off the gas and rolled to a 68-53 road victory.
Colin Lourens followed up a 30-point effort in Monday’s loss to Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont with a 23-point, 12-rebound performance against Pleasantville (14-7).
Jarod Nichols added 19 points and nine rebounds in the win as the Tigerhawks ended a modest two-game losing streak and put a halt in Pleasantville’s three-game win streak.
“This was a really good win for our guys against a fine Pleasantville team,” Colfax-Mingo coach John Borts said. “We had a great effort defensively and really got on the offensive glass with 18 offensive rebounds.”
Pleasantville, which will be the top seed in the Class 2A District 12 tournament this year, came into the game averaging 65 points per contest.
Colfax-Mingo led by six at halftime but outscored the host Trojans 38-29 in the second half.
Jacob Lietz gave the Tigerhawks three players in double-figures with 13 points. He also grabbed six rebounds and had three assists, while Jared Myers had nine points and seven rebounds.
Lourens added three steals to go with his double-double. Sean Borts had a team-high four assists, while Blake Summy delivered three.
“(Lietz) had a well-rounded game, (Myers) had a couple putbacks that really helped and (Summy) gave tremendous effort on defense to hold (Brady) Elder to 11 points under his average,” Borts said. “(Nichols) and (Lourens) had big offensive efforts and did a great job on the glass.
“I am really happy for our guys tonight. It was a great effort.”
Elder and Zeb Adreon each scored 12 points to lead Pleasantville, who came into the game winners of six of its last eight games.
Colfax-Mingo (12-8) looks to keep momentum in its South Iowa Cedar League cross-over game against Sigourney at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Colfax.
The Tigerhawks defeated the Savages by 23 in the earlier meeting back on Jan. 8.