BELLE PLAINE — Jarod Nichols recorded his ninth double-double of the season, but the Colfax-Mingo boys basketball team couldn’t hold a first-quarter lead on the road Tuesday night during South Iowa Cedar League play.
Nichols put in 26 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out five assists, but Belle Plaine rallied for a 63-60 home win.
Belle Plaine led by one with 14 seconds to go. A foul by Colfax-Mingo put the Plainsmen on the line, and the hosts made both free throws. The Tigerhawks got two good looks at a 3-pointer but both shots hit the front of the rim.
“We almost snuck out a win tonight,” C-M coach Nick Noring said.
“We had them flustered. I am excited for our future, the only direction we are going is up.”
Colfax-Mingo (7-9 overall, 7-7 in the SICL) has lost five of its last six games, while Belle Plaine (11-5, 10-3) won its third straight and sixth in seven games.
Junior Jonathan Jacobs scored 10 points and dished out four assists, while freshman Brady Berkey scored eight points and junior Reegan Van Dyke grabbed eight rebounds.
The Tigerhawks made six 3-pointers and hit 16-of-18 from the line. Belle Plaine was 14-of-16 from the line and made seven treys.
Brant DeMeulenaere scored 15 points and dished out six assists to lead Belle Plaine, while Brodie Bohlen scored 13. Brandon Mantz added nine points and 11 rebounds.
GIRLS
Belle Plaine 56, Colfax-Mingo 33
The Tigerhawk girls lost their second straight game, playing from behind from the opening tip.
Junior Ries Wilson had nine points and seven rebounds, while sophomore Mackensie Brown added nine points and four steals.
Belle Plaine (12-5, 9-4) got 21 points from Kenzie Mantz and 17 points from Rachel Montgomery. The Plainsmen led 25-14 at halftime before winning by 23.
Senior Dakota Hostetter grabbed eight rebounds and had three steals for Colfax-Mingo (4-13, 4-10), senior Amy Russell scored four points and sophomore Camilla Schlosser scored three points.
Both Tigerhawk squads host BGM in an SICL varsity doubleheader at 6 p.m. Friday in Colfax.