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GREENFIELD — With both Nodaway Valley and Central Decatur coming into Friday's Pride of Iowa hoops matchup with two conference losses, while Martensdale St. Marys sits atop the conference with one, there was plenty to play for.
Nodaway Valley did not play like a potential conference title was on the line as Central Decatur cruised to a 68-41 win.
"The hustle wasn’t there. The defense wasn’t there. The rebounding wasn’t there. We just didn’t play very well," Nodaway Valley coach Darrell Burmeister said.
Central Decatur had offensive success from the beginning of the game onward.
Leading 18-14 after a Spencer Thompson jumper early in the second quarter, the Cardinals began a run that lasted the rest of the quarter in which they outscored the Wolverines 20-2.
Consecutive assisted layups from Carter Boothe to Grant Atwood got the scoring going for the Cardinals in the second quarter and Central Decatur ended the half on a 13-0 run to take firm control.
Kyle Guill ended the half with 12 points on four made treys, and he led all scorers with 23 points including seven made 3-pointers. Boothe facilitated more than a few buckets in the first half with snap passes and ended the evening with 12 assists. He scored six points to go with seven rebounds and four steals.
"We talked about getting in the lane and looking backside and I thought we did that a bunch. We handled their pressure pretty well," Central Decatur coach Zach Clark said.
Brady Hilipire willed his way into a couple buckets and scored seven of the Wolverines' first 10 points of the third quarter.
However, the Cardinals matched Nodaway Valley's offensive output in the third then extended the lead into the fourth.
Central Decatur's defense played worthy of a squad competing for a conference title.
“We like to drive the ball and they covered it up really good," Burmeister said.
"Their help-side defense is good."
Spencer Lamb, who scored five points in the first quarter, did not score again until the fourth quarter.
"Offensively we didn't cut enough, didn’t screen enough, drove the ball into trouble a couple times," Burmeister said.
Central Decatur remains in thick contention for the conference race with six POI games remaining. Friday's result was encouraging to Clark.
"After the loss Saturday night (Jan. 14 vs. Interstate 35) we really challenged our guys’ toughness on Tuesday during a film session during practice," Clark said. "We thought we got out-toughed in the second half and that usually doesn’t happen to us. We got after them and had three really good days of practice.”
UP NEXT — Nodaway Valley (8-4, 6-3) plays at Southwest Valley (8-7, 6-5) Tuesday at 7:45 p.m.
CD: Scoring — Kyle Guill 8 0-1 23, Cole Pedersen 5 1-2 11, Michel Evertsen 3 0-0 9, Nathan Guill 3 0-1 7, Carter Boothe 2 1-2 6, Grant Atwood 3 0-0 6, Trae Petty 1 0-0 2, Tyler Davis 1 0-0 2, Gideon Porter 1 0-0 2. 3-pt goals — 12 (Kyle Guill 7, Michel Evertsen 3) FG Shooting — 27-60 (45 percent). Rebounds — 41 (Carter Boothe 7, Trae Petty 7, Cole Pedersen 6, Nathan Guill 5, Grant Atwood 5). Assists — 21 (Carter Boothe 12, Nathan Guill 4). Steals — 11 (Carter Boothe 4, Trae Petty 3). Team fouls —14 . Fouled out — None.
NV: Scoring — Brady Hilpipre 4 1-4 10, Spencer Lamb 4 0-0 9, Dallas Kreager 2 2-4 6, Spencer Thompson 2 0-0 5, Beau Weinheimer 1 2-2 4, Aryll Shantz 2 0-0 4, Tyler Vandewater 1 0-0 3. 3-pt goals — 4 (4 with one). FG Shooting — 16-44 (36.4 percent). Rebounds — 25 (Spencer Lamb 4, Brady Hilpire 4, Dallas Kreager 3). Assists — 9 (Beau Weinheimer 3, Spencer Thompson 2, Spencer Lamb 2). Steals — 3 (Three with one). Team fouls —14. Fouled out — None.
CD (68) 18 20 14 16
NV (41) 12 4 15 10