If points could be awarded for effort and determination to stay in games to the final buzzer to enhance your chances of winning, then the Cowboy basketball team’s record would look a bit different. As it is, that record is not at all indicative of how they are playing right now.
Last Tuesday saw them fall to Clear Lake 58-53 on the Lions home floor. A close first half had the Cowboys ahead 24-22 going into the break. The third quarter proved to be the red & black’s undoing as they scored only ten points to the Lion’s 21, and even though they pulled a bit closer at the end they also ran out of time to make one more run.
The team shot 33.3 percent from the field, 66.7 percent from the line and 26.3 percent from threepoint range. They made 33 total rebounds, six total assists and nine total steals. Three players finished in double figures, led by the twosome of Mateo Martinez and Connor State at 14 points each. Mateo popped in two baskets from beyond the arc and Connor one. Coady Olson finished with 11 points with a trey included. Aiden Harrington finished with eight points, Jaxon Carpenter four points and Cael Chase two points. State had a doubledouble by also grabbing 11 boards, six of them defensively. Harrington was next with eight, followed by Olson and Carpenter at four each. Martinez hauled in three caroms, Gavin Wilson two and Chase one. Carpenter dished the pumpkin for three assists, followed by State with two and Olson with one. Carpenter picked off four steals, with Martinez credited with three and State two. State powered his way vertical for five huge blocked shots, with Olson and Harrington at one each. “I was pleased with our overall effort,” stated head coach Brandon Lantzky. “The boys played hard and continued to improve. I feel we outplayed them for 3 1/2 quarters. The third one was what really hurt us. We had a few turnovers and gave them some looks at shots they were able to connect on.”
In a home contest on Friday, they kept it even closer before falling 69- 67 to Iowa Falls-Alden in overtime. The visiting Cadets led 36-33 at halftime. The Cowboys shot 46.8 from the field, an even 50 percent from the line and 22.7 percent from threepoint land. They made 30 total rebounds, 23 of which were defensive, 12 total assists and seven total steals. No less than four players reached double figures, led by Olson’s 19 points on 8 of 19 and one trey. Martinez scored 17 points on 7 of 14 and two treys. State finished at 12 points on 6 of 12 and Carpenter at 10 points with a pair of buckets from long range.
State nearly had a second straight doubledouble, as he cleaned the glass for nine rebounds. Olson finished with possession of six caroms, Carpenter five and Harrington four. Wilson added three rebounds, Nevan Foss two and Martinez one to the total. Martinez played unselfish ball in handing out six assists, with Harrington at three, Carpenter at two and both Olson and Wilson at one each. Martinez and Harrington picked pockets for two steals each, with Carpenter, State and Chase adding one apiece to their final stat lines. State also had a blocked shot.
“This was the best game we have played yet,” said Lantzky. “All of the guys that played really did a good job of working hard and giving everything they had. It is just too bad that a few miscues here or there cost us this one. We were in control in the overtime, but mistakes allowed them to make the comeback and walk out of our place with a close win.”
