March 29, 2024

Mustang boys use big run to rally past Rams

JEFFERSON — The PCM boys’ basketball team climbed out of a big hole and rallied past Greene County to remain undefeated behind 11 3-pointers on Dec. 8.

Six players scored at least eight points, and PCM used a 19-2 run in the third quarter to rally for a 72-62 road victory during Heart of Iowa Conference play.

PCM improved to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in HOIC play. Greene County fell to 2-1 overall and 2-1 in the league play.

Jackson Thomas became the fourth Mustang to lead the team in scoring in four games as he hit two of the 11 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 18 points.

Thomas added seven rebounds and five assists.

Sophomore Jason Stafford scored a career-high 13 points off the bench. Stafford was 7-of-8 from the foul line and also had four boards.

Sophomore Derek Brown chipped in 10 points off the bench, junior Andrew Van Ryswyk and senior Noah Lanphier both scored nine points and senior Elijah Sperfslage scored eight.

Van Ryswyk added 12 rebounds and four assists and Sperfslage delivered three assists. Junior Reed Worth added five points, five assists and four rebounds.

Greene County led 23-14 after one quarter. PCM chipped away at that lead with a 15-9 advantage in the second. The Mustangs took the lead for good with a 24-4 run that spanned the third and fourth quarters.

Wade Adcock scored a game-high 20 points for the Rams, and Joe Towers scored 11.

PCM 51, Roland-Story 42

STORY CITY — A tough shooting night for PCM was canceled out by a big-time performance from Van Ryswyk on Dec. 5.

The Mustangs got off to a hot start but had to hold off a second-half rally by the Norse during a 51-42 Heart of Iowa Conference road win. And Van Ryswyk led the way with a career-best 23 points and 12 rebounds.

PCM led 19-7 after one quarter before Roland-Story chipped away at the lead the rest of the way.

The Norse (0-3, 0-2) outscored the Mustangs 30-23 in the middle two quarters but was held to five points in the fourth.

Van Ryswyk was the only Mustang to hit double figures in scoring, and PCM stayed unbeaten despite shooting only 9-of-32 from the field and 7-of-26 from 3-point range.

Senior Dayton Boell sparked the Mustangs’ bench with eight points and five rebounds, and Brown also scored six points off the bench.

Sperfslage and junior Nick Dredge both dished out a team-high four assists and Van Ryswyk blocked five shots.

The Mustangs won the game despite hitting only 18-of-49 from the floor and 5-of-18 from 3-point range.