NV boys split last regular season games

TRURO — The Nodaway Valley Wolverines entered the postseason Monday following their fifth regular-season victory, a 63-59 win at Interstate 35 last Thursday.

The Wolverines’ record improved to 5-17, the program’s highest win total in three years.

“It is really great to get the win and it is great for the kids,” NV head coach Mick Long said. “I really though we should have gotten the win at CAM on Tuesday. We’ve been in a funk where shots haven’t gone in and tonight, we made those shots. This will give us some confidence going into the Shenandoah game Monday night. We’re excited to get to see what we can do against a quality team out of the Hawkeye 10 Conference.”

Interstate 35 had a hard time slowing down Nodaway Valley’s leading scorer, Ty Rardin. Rardin poured in 25 points against the Roadrunners on 9-of-14 shooting and was on fire from the 3-point line, making 4 of 7 attempts. He also went 3 of 4 from the free-throw line.

NV also dominated the boards, with three players finishing with more than 10 rebounds. Titan Foster and Jaxson Stringer, who scored 15 and 10 points, respectively, each grabbed 11 rebounds for double-doubles. As a team, NV had 42 rebounds. Titus Hamer added eight points.

Three seniors for the Roadrunners scored in double figures: Jack Glen with 12, Porter Cannoy with 11 and Ben McCuddin with 10.

The Wolverines took the lead late in the first quarter and outscored the Roadrunners 12-7 over the final five minutes of the half.

Rardin scored 16 of his points, including all four of his made 3-pointers, before the break.

NV led by as many as seven in the third quarter before Interstate 35 cut the deficit to within three. Holding a 43-39 lead entering the fourth quarter, the Wolverines survived a late Roadrunners push to secure the win.

Last week began with a road game against nonconference CAM at Anita. The Cougars entered having lost three of their previous four games. Conversely, NV sought its second win in three contests.

The Cougars had recent success against the Wolverines, winning two straight and three of the last four meetings. Nodaway Valley stayed close throughout but never led in a 54-48 loss.

Rardin scored 11 to lead the Wolverines, and Jack Berg added 10. Foster led the team with 10 rebounds, but CAM outrebounded NV 35-24.

NV shot 35% from the field and made seven 3-pointers.

CAM shot 36%, made three 3-pointers and went 6 of 15 from the foul line. The Cougars’ Collin Bower scored 21 points, pulled down nine rebounds and had three steals. Gunnar Hogueison added 11 points. Bower surpassed 1,000 career points against NV.

Shenandoah entered as NV’s district tournament opponent with a 12-9 record. The winner was to advance to Thursday night at Ridge View (Holstein).