March 28, 2024

Peterson: Wolverine bandwagon gains a retired passenger

By Larry Peterson, CNA contributing writer

Unlike all those years helping with coverage on court level for the Creston News Advertiser, I found myself sitting alone in the top row of Section 101 of Wells Fargo Arena Tuesday night.

It was 15 years ago that I was on the court as the Nodaway Valley boys defeated Fort Dodge St. Edmond for a state championship, when coach Darrell Burmeister pumped his fist and shouted, “SOUTHWEST IOWA, BABY!”

This year, following the tournament run of this entertaining Nodaway Valley girls team in their first trek to state, my role is a little different. I was on the south stairs with all of the other Wolverine fans, waiting for permission to enter the arena at 8:30 p.m. for the 9 p.m. game, instead of waltzing through the north press pass entrance like all of the previous years.

The Dec. 31 retirement has changed a lot of things, personally, including willingly paying the admission price to watch this entertaining group of kids. I kind of feel like the out-of-town uncle, having watched them grow up and become state contenders.

The first time I saw this group of Nodaway Valley seniors was the fall of 2015. I was getting ready to coach the Creston seventh grade team, which included the likes of Northwest Missouri State signee Kelsey Fields, fellow all-conference post player Sam Dunphy, shooting guard Rylie Driskell and talented point guard Braelyn Baker, who missed the last portion of her senior season with injury.

I watched them play a game in the Indianola club league on a Sunday afternoon, coached by Brad Baker. They were playing against a group of Nodaway Valley kids, and I watched closely because I knew Nodaway Valley was on our schedule.

I still remember the close battle we had that year with the NV team coached by Ray Stewart. Even then, I could tell Lexi Shike was an aggressive lefthander who seemed to play bigger than she was. (Shike ranks third in Class 2A rebounding this season at 5-foot-6.)

I knew Corinne Bond would be someone who could battle with Fields around the basket and be the formidable rebounder that she is today (ranking 10th in Class 2A). Macy Kuhns was small, but very quick on defense and in handing out assists. (Kuhns is 11th among Class 2A assist leaders.)

The team’s leading scorer, junior Maddax DeVault, was part of another good NV seventh grade team the following year. I knew when you put them all together, it could be something special. I saw these Wolverine freshman contributors Lindsey Davis and Annika Nelson when I was the Orient-Macksburg junior high coach for two years.

DeVault and Davis can strike quickly with 3-pointers that can cripple an opponent’s rally, such as Tuesday night’s third-quarter barrage after North Linn had closed the halftime deficit to 28-22. Earlier in the opening half, Nodaway Valley had stormed to a 22-7 lead with a familiar formula of forcing turnovers and scoring in transition.

With Bond sitting out some extended minutes in foul trouble, the Wolverines faced a size disadvantage at times Tuesday and were outrebounded 42-30. They made up for it by forcing 24 turnovers.

That’s how this Nodaway Valley team rolls. They make the opposition uncomfortable. I’ve seen good teams stumble in the pressure of that state tournament stage, but not these Wolverines. That poise was demonstrated in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s 53-47 victory.

In those eight minutes, Nodaway Valley was 10-of-13 at the free throw line. Davis looked older than her years, steadily making 5 of 6 down the stretch on the way to a team-high 20 points. DeVault finished with 17 points, garnering extra attention from the Lynx defense every time she touched the ball.

There are some graduated players who helped to make this year’s team what it is — I saw former point guard Regan Weinheimer in the stands Tuesday — so I look at this year’s run as a true program accomplishment directed by Eisbach and assistant coach Amy Sivadge.

It’s been fun to watch this team play the kind of basketball I love most. It’s fast pace action and by late in the third quarter you often see the opposition beginning to wilt. Or, sometimes the blitz hits early as in a 17-2 lead igniting a 55-33 regional final win over AHSTW.

No. 1-ranked Maquoketa Valley will be a stiffer challenge in Friday morning’s semifinal. But, from my vantage point in the stands with the rest of the fans during this run, I have not seen any sign this team will willingly take a back seat to anyone.

It should be a heck of a battle. All the games are streamed online at no cost at the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union website at watchighsau.com, or catch the action on the IGHSAU YouTube channel. On a Smart TV that’s a great way to watch. The finals are broadcast by Iowa PBS.

Another team to watch is Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton, which held off Lenox’s challenge in the Class 1A regional finals in Winterset. The Spartans have advanced to a 2 p.m. Friday semifinal appearance against top-seeded Algona Bishop Garrigan.

After being paid to observe this stuff for 41 years, I’m really enjoying the entertainment provided by outstanding teams such as these Nodaway Valley girls. And, you get to your car much quicker after the game!

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Contact the writer:

Email: malachy.lp@gmail.com

Twitter: @larrypeterson