C-M girls overcome slow start, down HLV on Senior Night

COLFAX — Already missing one starter, Colfax-Mingo’s girls basketball team nearly had its night turned upside down when starting point guard Carley Underwood went down in warmups with an ankle injury.

Underwood didn’t start the game but played and it was her trio of 3-pointers in the third quarter that pushed the Tigerhawks over the top during a 57-43 home win over HLV on Friday night.

Abi Rawlins held down the fort while Underwood was on the bench and made key free throws down the stretch to push C-M to a home win on Senior Night.

“I didn’t see it. It was in the final few minutes of warm ups. I think it was in a 3 on 2 drill,” C-M head girls basketball coach Blake Warrick said about Underwood’s injury. “It didn’t help with the slow start. If she’s not scoring, she’s usually helping someone else score. And we were already missing another starter, too.”

The Tigerhawks (6-12 overall, 5-8 in the SICL) trailed 7-5 after one. Underwood’s ankle injury kept her out of the starting lineup but she entered the game in the first.

Colfax-Mingo got things rolling in the second and a big second half pushed the home team to victory.

Underwood had no intention of missing the game. She played through the pain and scored 17 points in the win.

“During warmups, I was going up for a layup and just came down wrong. It was a severe sprain,” Underwood said. “It felt better when I was moving and not just standing. And I’m also the type of person who wants to play. I don’t like sitting on the bench and watching. I tried to fight though the pain and it got better as the game went on.”

Rawlins matched a career-high with 26 points. She began the game with a 3-pointer, pushed her team in front 14-9 with another trey in the second and a third triple made it 19-11.

“I was nervous. I thought I was going to have to play point guard and I do not like that role,” Rawlins said. “But once Caylee (Cunningham) started bringing the ball up, I was able to gain more confidence and stay in my normal role.”

HLV (3-14, 3-11) ended the half strong and trailed by three at the break.

The third quarter belonged to Underwood. She started the period with a 3-pointer and later hit consecutive treys to extend the Tigerhawks’ lead to 34-20.

Underwood’s steal and layup at the end of the third made it 36-26.

“The first half was kind of rough. The second half was better and playing was just a distraction from the pain,” Underwood said. “That separation in the third made everyone feel a little better. Abi did great and the rest of the team stepped up when I wasn’t out there.”

Underwood didn’t come out of the game after she entered in the first. She wasn’t sure if that was going to be possible though. Shooting 3-pointers also was smart with a sprained ankle. Cutting to the basket was more difficult.

“I was able to move a lot better in the second half,” Underwood said. “I decided to take more 3s because it was easier than driving.”

The Tigerhawks made a bunch of free throws in the final period. C-M outscored HLV 21-17 in the final fourth and 10 of those points came on Rawlins’ freebies.

Rawlins missed seven free throws in the game but was 10-of-12 in the fourth. Seven of those makes came in the final 3 minutes and they kept the Warriors at bay.

“I knew Carley was going to try to play because that’s her mindset. But I also knew I had to take the lead and help my teammates out while she was out,” Rawlins said. “We were already down a starter and a few JV players were going to play more.”

Rawlins grabbed eight rebounds to go with her 26 points. Underwood scored 11 of her 17 points in the third and added three rebounds and four steals off the bench.

Caylee Cunningham put in six points, dished out seven assists and blocked two shots, while Kyra Lester registered four points, 12 rebounds and seven steals on her Senior Night. Felicity Woods chipped in three points and five boards off the bench.

The Tigerhawks shot 33.3 percent from the floor, 7-of-25 from the 3-point range and 14-of-29 from the foul line. They committed 13 turnovers.

“We go on long scoring droughts at times,” Warrick said. “It was nice to put the ball in the hole more tonight. The spirits are up when we make shots. It was good to see.”

Notes: Rawlins also scored 26 points last year against Belle Plaine. … Freshman Devan Chadwick replaced Underwood in the starting lineup. It was her first career start. … Underwood was 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Rawlins made four 3-pointers. ... The Tigerhawks played the game without starter Madison Riddle.

Keota 45, Colfax-Mingo 33

KEOTA — Cunningham put in a career-best 15 points and Underwood added 13, but Colfax-Mingo’s offensive struggles continued during a 45-33 road loss to Keota on Thursday.

The Tigerhawks shot 21 percent from the floor and 3-of-17 from 3-point range in the SICL loss.

The Eagles (6-13, 6-9) outscored C-M 14-5 in the third. Keota turned the ball over 28 times but was 6-of-16 from 3 and 11-of-17 from the line.

Cunningham added five rebounds, two assists and two steals to her 15 points and Underwood swiped three steals.

Rawlins put in three points, grabbed two boards and dished out five assists and Lester grabbed four boards. Riddle had three rebounds and three steals.

Macie McDonald tallied 15 points and seven rebounds and Taylor Kindred chipped in eight points and 12 boards. The Eagles out-rebounded Colfax-Mingo 34-22.