Madrid uses second half run to eliminate Mount Ayr

GREENFIELD — In a game that was a tale of two halves, Madrid utilized a strong second half to run past Mount Ayr in a battle between a pair of quality boys basketball teams Tuesday night.

The Tigers defeated the Raiders 67-59 in front of a large crowd at Nodaway Valley High School in a Class 1A, District 10 Final.

Madrid advanced to a Saturday Substate Final against Baxter at Ballard High School. The Bolts beat Montezuma 82-69 at Pleasantville Tuesday in the opposite district.

“When you’re at this point, everybody’s really, really good. Madrid has a really nice ball club that can move it and hit shots when they need to. We’re a really good ball club and can move it and hit shots when we need to,” Mount Ayr head coach Bret Ruggles said. “We said in the locker room we didn’t get beat, we lost. I can live with that. We played our game, our style. It just wasn’t quite enough.”

Mount Ayr had enough in the first half to build a commanding lead. They shot well from wherever they pleased in the first quarter, getting two first-quarter 3-pointers each from Jackson Ruggles and Ryce Reynolds, and one from Braydon Pierson.

The Raiders were in front 24-16 at the end of the first frame and 35-28 at halftime. Jackson Ruggles, a freshman, led his team at the break with 10 points.

“When you come into a district championship game there’s always that third or fourth guy. We didn’t know if it’d be Tyler [Martin], Ryce or Jackson, but it happened to be Jackson,” coach Ruggles said. “He had a good start and a good finish. He had some really good plays. We just unfortunately needed a few more shots.”

Madrid got a pair of long-range shots from sophomore guard Toryn Severson, one from sophomore Fabian Ortiz-Alaniz and a nifty putback under the hoop by 6-foot-8 forward Jackson Newell that all led to the second-half comeback. At the end of the third quarter, the Tigers found themselves within two for just the second time after intermission.

Ortiz-Fabian nailed a 3-pointer from near the top of they key with 6:52 remaining in the game that earned the Tigers their first lead of the night at 51-48.

The Raiders would only come within four points in the closing minutes as Madrid stayed a step in front the rest of the way.

Outstanding basketball careers for five Mount Ayr seniors closed with the game — Frost, Pierson, Riley Stark, Trey Fooken and Drew Ehlen. All played their role on what the Raiders have been able to build in the last four years.

When this group of seniors were freshmen, deep playoff runs for Mount Ayr weren’t as numerous as they are now, their coach said.

Jaixen Frost scored 15 to lead the Raiders, Ruggles scored 13 and Jaize Frost 10.

“I always tell our players when they’re freshmen that with everything you do, leave the program better than when you found it. A program would kill to have one district championship let alone play in three or four, and it’s four or five for us, technically,” Ruggles said. “The young guys now get the standard. They get what it is, now they’ve gotta go for it.”

Mount Ayr, one of three teams to go 11-2 in the Pride of Iowa Conference, finished its season 21-3. Madrid improved to 21-2.

Toryn Severson put in 19 for Madrid. That was supplemented by 18 from Ortiz- Alaniz, 14 from Kadyn Severson and 13 from Newell.

MADRID (67) — Totals (FG FT PTS) 19 12-16 67. Toryn Severson 3 7-7 19, Fabian Ortiz-Alaniz 5 1-2 18, Brady Buck 1 1-3 3, Kadyn Severson 4 2-2 14, Jackson Newell 6 1-2 13.

MOUNT AYR (59) — Totals 19 12-15 59. Ryce Reynolds 2 1-2 7, Jackson Ruggles 4 2-3 13, Jaixen Frost 4 6-6 15, Braydon Pierson 2 0-1 6, Jaize Frost 4 2-2 10, Tyler Martin 3 1-1 8.