Early lead propels Rockets past C-M boys

COLFAX — Colfax-Mingo boys’ basketball coach Nick Noring wanted his team to mimic the style of the Wisconsin Badgers on Monday.

The Tigerhawks’ opponent, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, had the playing style of Baylor or West Virginia, and the best way to compete with the Rockets was to slow down the tempo and grind it out on the defensive end of the floor.

Unfortunately for Noring and the Tigerhawks, EBF’s up-tempo style won out. The Rockets grabbed an early advantage and then fought off several runs by the Tigerhawks during a 69-58 victory.

“We wanted to go Wisconsin style. We knew they played like Baylor and West Virginia, so we wanted to slow them down and try to get them in a halfcourt,” Noring said. “Sometimes we did OK, but not scoring enough was our dagger.”

The win by the Rockets spoiled Colfax-Mingo’s Senior Night. Before the game, the Tigerhawks honored Lucas Seebeck and Brody Decker, two seldom used players who are favorites to everyone in the stands.

Seebeck drilled his only shot attempt of the game, a 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter. Decker had a few chances to crack the scoreboard but his shots rolled off the rim.

“They come in and work hard for me every day, no questions asked,” Noring said. “They always battle for me. It was nice to get them in the game tonight. The kids love them. The crowd loves them. They had some opportunities to get some shots up, too, which was great.”

The Rockets used an early run to grab a lead and led wire-to-wire in the game.

EBF (10-10) led 21-11 after one quarter. The Tigerhawks’ best offense in the first was two 3-pointers by junior Reegan Van Dyke.

In the second quarter, Colfax-Mingo trimmed its deficit to six points when junior Alex Lewis and Van Dyke each connected from long range.

EBF went back up 11 following a 9-4 spurt, but the Tigerhawks ended the half on a 7-2 run to close within 34-28 at the break.

Jaden Scott scored on the Rockets’ first possession of the second half to push the Rockets’ lead to eight, but the Tigerhawks (8-11) answered with a 3-pointer from sophomore Holister Koenig and a three-point play by freshman Brady Berkey.

A bucket inside by junior Jarod Nichols kept the deficit at two, but EBF responded with seven straight to go back up nine.

Colfax-Mingo didn’t go away. Koenig hit another trey and then Nichols scored two straight inside.

Junior Misha Seebeck added another bucket inside the lane to tie it at 45-all.

EBF scored the final five points of the period to go up 50-45 after three quarters. The Tigerhawks got as close as three points three different times, but the Rockets eventually pulled away with a 10-2 spurt.

“You saw the inexperience at the varsity level at times tonight,” Noring said.

“They are learning, and it’s hard sometimes to think about the fact we have one guy who had varsity experience last year. It’s a process. We just have to keep grinding.

“Sooner or later, someone will step up when we need him to. We just need to stay together as a family.”

Nichols finished with 20 points, 16 rebounds and five assists to lead the Tigerhawks. Van Dyke added 15 points and seven boards.

Koenig put in eight points and dished out four assists. Junior Jonathan Jacobs also had four assists.

Gabe Larkin led four Rockets in double-figures with 18 points. Trey Moore finished with 13.

The Tigerhawks will play the rest of the season without sophomore Zarek Hill, who has been suspended for violating team rules.

The Tigerhawks play Noring’s former school, Southeast Warren, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Liberty Center.

They play at Tri-County in the South Iowa Cedar League Crossover game at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

“Both teams competed hard tonight,” Noring said. “We were dogging it sometimes maybe because we have been sick. We need to get our energy back before districts start next week. The goal at this point is to have a winning season.”

EBF 21-13-16-19 — 69

Colfax-Mingo 11-17-17-13 —58

E-B-F (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP) — Larkin 6-6-3-18, Peyton Walker 4/1-1-2-10, Klyn 3-4-10, Hawk 0-01-0, Moore 6/1-1-2-13, Davis 0-1-1-1, Taylor 0-0-1-0, Scott 5-2-5-12, Derek Walker 1/1-0-0-3. TOTALS: 26/3-14-17-69.

Colfax-Mingo (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP) — Berkey 1-2-3-4, Misha Seebeck 1-0-2-2, Van Dyke 6/3-0-3-15, Jacobs 1/1-0-3-3, Koenig 3/2-0-1-8, Lucas Seebeck 1/1-0-0-3, Lewis 1/1-0-2-3, Nichols 7-6-3-20, Decker 0-0-2-0. TOTALS: 21/8-8-17-58.