PCM boys can’t stay with ranked Hawks

MONROE — Senior Andrew Van Ryswyk recorded another double-double, but PCM’s boys’ basketball team couldn’t keep up with Class 2A No. 6 South Hamilton in the fourth quarter during a 67-53 Heart of Iowa Conference loss on Feb. 1.

PCM trailed by one after three quarters, but the Hawks won their 10th straight game after outscoring the Mustangs 27-14 in the fourth.

“We can play with and beat teams like this if we take care of stuff,” PCM coach Fred Lorensen said. “They have a really nice team, but this was anyone’s game through three and a half quarters. We have to find a way to finish things.”

South Hamilton made 11-of-13 from the free-throw line in the final frame.

Conner Hill scored a game-high 29 points and was 7-of-8 from the foul line in the final 1:29.

Van Ryswyk had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Mustangs (10-7 overall, 9-3 in conference play). South Hamilton is now 17-1 overall and 12-1 in HOIC games after dispatching of Gilbert on Feb. 2.

Sophomore Gatlin Boell scored a career-high 13 points for PCM, and junior Jason Stafford had seven points and two assists.

“We have to understand that if we aren’t making those long shots we need to do something different because we have guys under the basket who can do some things, too,” Lorensen said.

PCM connected on only 2-of-18 from 3-point range.

“We settled too much. We needed to get the ball inside more,” Lorensen said. “Our percentage from outside was not very good so we needed to do something different.

“We dribble the ball and don’t go anywhere a lot. I have a name for that, and it’s called a turnover.”

The Hawks led 12-8 after one quarter and used a 9-0 run in the second quarter to go up 29-19. PCM scored the final five points of the frame to close the gap to five at halftime.

PCM got within one point three different times in the third quarter before eventually taking a 34-33 lead on a bucket by Isaac Telfer.

A 3-point play by Van Ryswyk later put the Mustangs on top 39-36, but South Hamilton used a 9-2 run to regain the lead early in the fourth quarter.

Van Ryswyk hit three free throws to pull PCM within 45-44, but the Hawks answered with 13-2 run to pull away.

“They made some shots, and we had several 3-pointers that bounced off the back of the rim,” Lorensen said. “I didn’t think our defense was terrible. Conner Hill is just really good. He’s one of the best players in 2A for sure.”

PCM hosted Gilbert in Monroe on Feb. 5. The Mustangs make up a HOIC game with Saydel at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 8 in Des Moines. They host South Hardin at 10 a.m. on Feb. 9 in Monroe.

PCM 77, Nevada 49

NEVADA — Derek Brown scored a career-high 22 points, Telfer dished out a career-best eight assists and PCM crushed Nevada 77-49 during a HOIC game on Feb. 4.

Van Ryswyk (16), Stafford (14) and Reed Worth (11) also scored in double-figures for the Mustangs.

PCM led 23-12 after one quarter and outscored the Cubs (8-11, 5-8) 44-26 in the second half.

Stafford added five rebounds and four assists to his 14 points, Worth totaled five rebounds and six assists and Van Ryswyk also grabbed five boards. Telfer had four points and four rebounds and Boell chipped in eight points, two rebounds and two assists.