Boys win back-to-back games

The Nodaway Valley boys basketball team picked up its second straight victory Tuesday, Jan. 20, with a 58-51 win over Lenox.

The victory followed the Wolverines’ road win Friday at Wayne and improved their Pride of Iowa Conference record to 2-9 and their overall mark to 3-11. Later in the week, Nodaway Valley hosted Southeast Warren.

The game against Lenox was the first of three straight home contests for the Wolverines.

Nodaway Valley coach Mick Long said his team is playing its best basketball of the season.

“The last five or so games, you can see it in the guys,” Long said. “They’re playing hard and having fun, and when you do that, good things will happen. I think we’re playing our best basketball of the season. We’re playing hard, and that’s really important, and we’re having some fun. I wish we had more wins for their sake. The kids are doing what we’re asking them to do.”

The Wolverines had played Lenox closely the first time the teams met, falling by three points, and were eager to turn the tables in the rematch.

A close first quarter ended with Nodaway Valley leading 16-14 after Jack Berg hit a running jumper in the lane as time expired. The Wolverines took control in the second quarter with a 16-8 run, building a 32-22 halftime advantage. Nodaway Valley closed the half on an 11-1 run.

Titan Foster, Ty Rardin, Titus Hamer and Evan Meisenheimer all contributed offensively to the halftime lead.

After the break, the Wolverines maintained control and never allowed the Tigers to take the lead in the second half. Nodaway Valley led 47-38 after three quarters, and although Lenox outscored the Wolverines in the final period, the outcome was never in doubt.

The win gave Lenox its third straight road loss and snapped a five-game Lenox winning streak dating back to December 2023.

Nodaway Valley was led by three players in double figures. Berg scored 16 points, including a perfect 4-for-4 effort from 3-point range. Foster finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Hamer added 10 points and four assists.

The Wolverines’ week ended with a 66-49 loss to Southeast Warren Thursday. The game was moved up a day because of expected cold weather the next day. The Warhawks led by 10 at the end of the first quarter and took a 35-20 advantage into halftime.

The teams played evenly in the second half, but Nodaway Valley was unable to close the gap.

Rardin scored 15 points, including three 3-pointers, to lead the Wolverines. Southeast Warren was paced by Jamison Ewing with 22 points and 14 rebounds, Jaydon Dippold with 18 points, Reece Youmans with 14 points and Lucas Dirkx with 11 points. The Warhawks shot 43.5% from the field.

Nodaway Valley was set to host Southwest Valley on Tuesday, travel to Martensdale-St. Marys on Friday and host nonconference opponent Earlham on Saturday.