Quick start propels CMB boys to win over C-M

COLFAX — A quick timeout was called by Colfax-Mingo boys basketball coach Nick Noring on Saturday.

The Tigerhawks fell down 10-0 against former Heart of Iowa Conference rival Collins-Maxwell/Baxter, and Noring needed to wake his team up.

The timeout did some good, but Colfax-Mingo was too far behind, and the Raiders never lost their early lead during a 68-55 non-conference road victory.

“It was mostly effort on our end,” Noring said. “We came out like we just had Thanksgiving dinner. It was zombie mode. You can’t do that against teams like this. I know we played 24 hours ago, but that’s the nature of the game.

“There just wasn’t any fire. I didn’t have anyone step up and say ‘it’s time to go.’”

On the flip side, CMB got whatever it wanted inside from Will Clapper. The only thing that slowed down the 6-foot-4, 275-pound sophomore were fouls.

Clapper scored six of the Raiders’ first 10 points but was saddled with fouls most of the night. He still finished with 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds.

Zach Hasselbrink got his first win as CMB’s head coach. He didn’t like a few of the fouls called against Clapper, but it may happen all season given Clapper’s size advantage over nearly everyone he plays.

“He does look unnatural on the basketball court, but he is just moving people because he has a big butt,” Hasselbrink said. ‘It’s hard for the referees to understand that he is just moving people. He’s a big kid, a special athlete and he’ll demand a double team all year.”

When Clapper was on the bench, CMB got a big lift from junior Braydon Aker, who scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Raiders.

Junior Travis Lindemoen hit a pair of 3-pointers and a converted a layup in the first quarter. The Raiders led 18-8 after eight minutes of action.

The lead grew to 25-10 after a 7-0 run early in the second quarter. Aker went to work in the post when Clapper went out of the game. His first bucket gave CMB a 13-point lead and then a 3-point play kept the advantage in double-digits later in the quarter. CMB led 32-20 at halftime.

“It didn’t change our gameplan at all (when Will had to come out of the game),” said senior Hunter McWhirter, who finished with eight points, 11 rebounds and five steals. “We have several guys that can play the post and be physical down there. We want to get them the ball and let them eat.

“It was good for Braydon to come in and help us out. We need that from him and whoever else comes in.”

The Tigerhawks played with the Raiders point-for-point after the slow start. They trailed by 10 not even three minutes into the game and lost by 13.

They are still playing without their all-conference forward Jarod Nichols and Misha Seebeck. Nichols injured his ankle in the season opener and Seebeck missed his second straight game after getting his Wisdom teeth pulled late last week.

“It’s easy to say that if we had Jarod (Nichols) we would have won this game, but the reality is someone else needs to step up,” Noring said. “I think their posts just worked harder than we did. Their big guy was moving and doing what he needed to do and our guys were in cruise control.

“I really push on our motto, which is TWG — toughness wins games. Our weakest point right now is our mental toughness. When we start out a game like that, they need a timeout to help turn the switch on. I don’t like doing that, but unfortunately, I needed to.”

Clapper hit back-to-back buckets in the third quarter before picking up another early foul. That brought Aker back into the game, and the junior hit two more baskets inside the lane to keep CMB (1-2) in front by 11 after three quarters.

“Braydon came in today and made plays. He showed me that he can be relied on,” Hasselbrink said. “He was outstanding tonight.”

Freshman Brady Berkey nailed a trey early in the fourth quarter to get the Tigerhawks (1-2) within nine. Clapper followed that 3-pointer with another basket and a free throw. Colfax-Mingo didn’t get closer than 10 the rest of the way.

Clapper scored 11 of his 23 in the final frame.

“This one is important because it’s win No. 1 for me,” Hasselbrink said. “It was good to get this one tonight because next week’s slate is going to be tough.”

Lindemoen hit three 3-pointers and finished with 12 points and six steals for CMB. Freshman Cole Damman added nine points, 10 steals and nine rebounds. Sophomore Ian Thomson also had five steals. CMB finished with 27 steals total.

Junior Reegan Van Dyke collected his second straight double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead Colfax-Mingo. He also had five assists and three steals.

Junior Alex Lewis added 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Berkey chipped in 12 points and three steals. Sophomore Holister Koenig finished with eight points and seven boards.

Noring hopes to have Seebeck back for Tuesday’s road game against Montezuma. Nichols is progressing well, and Noring is hopeful to have his best player back Friday’s road game at BGM. Both of those contests tip off around 7:30 p.m.

CMB returns home at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday when it hosts Prairie City-Monroe in Baxter.