Bedford, SEW clip Mount Ayr

BEDFORD — It was a rough 24 hours for the Mount Ayr boys team that took a 3-0 record to non-conference rival Bedford Thursday night.

Bedford, now a member of the Corner Conference after playing several years in the Pride of Iowa with the Raiders, rallied in the second half to earn a 45-34 victory. The Bulldogs stayed unbeaten with that win and a 69-19 romp over Hamburg Friday to go into this week at 6-0.

Mount Ayr appeared to be on the verge of getting back on track Friday by taking early leads of 15-0 and 24-10 in the first half over Southeast Warren, one of the early co-leaders of the POI along with the Raiders. But, the Warhawks turned the tables with a 37-20 advantage in the second half to hand Mount Ayr its second successive defeat, 69-63.

On Thursday, Hayes Stodgill quieted the Bedford home crowd early by hitting three straight shots, including two 3-pointers, for an 8-2 lead after two minutes. Stogdill had 10 points at halftime as the Raiders were in front, 19-16, after a defensive-minded first half.

Bedford’s 15-8 advantage in the third quarter lifted the Bulldogs to a 31-27 lead, and the Raiders were playing catch-up the rest of the way.

Right after Bedford’s early 4-0 run in the fourth quarter opened up a 35-27 lead, Mount Ayr season scoring leader Jackson Ruggles was whistled for his fourth foul on a charging call with 5:09 to play. A minute later, Ruggles landed hard on his back from a collision under the basket.

Ruggles tried to return, but the injury was clearly affecting him and coach Bret Ruggles pulled him out with 1:35 to play and his team trailing 41-34. With the Southeast Warren conference game looming 24 hours later, Bret Ruggles was trying to give all of his starters momentary breaks.

“The problem for us tonight was, what do you do about the legs tonight?” Bret Ruggles said. “We rotated as much as we could, knowing that Southeast Warren was the bigger game for us, being in the conference. It was a physical ballgame tonight and we just couldn’t get enough good shots that we take. I told the guys, that’s what a district final game is going to feel like. They’re going to allow that kid of play.”

Only three players scored for the Raiders in Thursday’s game. Stogdill finished with 14 points. Ruggles and Tate Dugan each tallied 10 points. Junior guard Quentin Dalton led the Bulldogs with 19 points.

The toll of two intense games on back-to-back nights seemed to show in the second half Friday for the Raiders, who held a 43-32 halftime lead in the quest to take a hold first place in the conference. Southeast Warren had one conference loss to Martensdale-St. Marys going into Friday’s contest.

Mount Ayr was only able to score 10 points in the third quarter and 10 in the fourth as the Warhawks used a 37-20 second half to overtake the Raiders, 69-63.

Drew Graham and Ruggles each scored 16 points Friday and Dugan added 14. Reece Youmans led the Warhawks with 22 points.

Mount Ayr looks to get back on track Tuesday at Wayne (0-5 overall, 0-3 conference). Going into this week’s games, Lenox boys top the Pride of Iowa at 3-0, with Southeast Warren, Southwest Valley, Mount Ayr and Martensdale-St. Marys all showing one conference loss.

THURSDAY

BEDFORD (45) — Totals (FG FT PTS) — 16 9-12 45.Quentin Dalton 6 5-6 19, Camden Powell 3 2-2 9, Hayden Riedel 4 0-2 8, Ashton Nally 2 2-2 6, John Deemer 1 0-0 3. 3-point goals — 4 (Dalton 2, Powell 1, Deemer 1). Team fouls — 11. Fouled out — None.

MOUNT AYR (34) — Totals — (FG FT PTS) 14 2-7 34. Hayes Stogdill 5 1-2 14, Jackson Ruggles 4 1-2 10, Tate Dugan 5 0-0 10. 3-point goals — 4 (Stogdill 3, Ruggles 1). Team fouls — 16. Fouled out — None.

FRIDAY

SE WARREN (69) — Totals (FG FT PTS) — 24 12-21 69. Reece Youmans 7 7-10 22, Jamison Ewing 7 0-3 19, Lucas Dirkx 3 4-6 12, Jaydon Dippold 4 1-2 10, Alexander Johnstone 3 0-0 6. 3-point goals — 9 (Ewing 5, Dirkx 2, Youmans 1, Dippold 1). Team fouls — 10. Fouled out — None.

MOUNT AYR (63) — Totals — (FG FT PTS) 26 7-9 63. Drew Graham 7 2-3 16, Jackson Ruggles 5 5-5 16, Tate Dugan 7 0-1 14, Adler Reed 4 0-0 10, Hayes Stogdill 2 0-0 4, Jaxson Greene 1 0-0 3. 3-point goals — 4 (Reed 2, Ruggles 1, Greene 1). Team fouls — 18. Fouled out — Stogdill.