By R.D. Keep
Correspondent
NEW SHARON – It was almost a David versus Goliath scenario for the English Valleys’ boys basketball team as they played their second round Class 1A District 9 tournament game. The youthful Bears were facing South Iowa Cedar League champion North Mahaska, who is senor dominated. The result was a season-ending 75-19 loss.
North Mahaska shot a blistering 57.7 percent from the field including 10 3-pointers in the first half. They forced 17 English Valleys turnovers with 10 coming on steals. The host Warhawks led 25-4 after one period and 54-13 by halftime.
“They shot extremely well tonight,” said EV coach Zach Weilbacher. “We knew they were a very good shooting team and they proved that tonight. They overwhelmed us early like good teams do and we couldn’t get shots to fall. We had open looks especially early but they just never fell, and they made us pay on the other end.”
The Warhawks sport a roster of eight seniors and four juniors as compared to EV’s seven sophomore, five freshman and two senior roster. Despite the large deficit there was no quit from the Bears as they continued to press and run the offense.
“They’ve done that all year,” said Weilbacher. “They have no quit. They play extremely hard. They play together and play for each other. We have a lot to build on as we look to the future as a young team. The future is bright.”
Freshman Christian Tripses led the Bears with nine points and sophomores Everett Bender added six and Kane Axmear scored four with five rebounds.
The contest was the last for the Bears’ two seniors, Gage Bender and Declan Patterson.
We have two seniors, no juniors and 14 freshmen and sophomores,” said Weilbacher. “Gage Bender and Declan Patterson play a lot of JV for us and do get in most varsity games as well. Declan is a very vocal kid and is a great kid in the classroom and on the floor. Gage has only been playing basketball two years and the growth I have seen from this year alone has been cool. We couldn’t ask for two better seniors.
English Valleys closes the season at 4-20. North Mahaska improves to 19-3 and will host Baxter in the district semifinal on Thursday.
