Taylor Smith, Sports Editor
After their decisive blowout win over Eagle Grove on February 16, the Cowboy basketball team advanced to face Sioux Central in the second round of Class 2A – District 2 action last Thursday evening.
Against the two-seed Rebels (17-4 overall), the three-seed Cowboys (14-8 overall) opted to feed their All-Conference big man early on.
Chaz Lane went on a personal 6-0 run with three made shot attempts and lit a fire underneath the Clarion-Goldfield-Dows faithful who had taken the 90-minute trek to Sioux Rapids.
Freshman Paxton Lingenfelter also had a strong take to the rim early, and the Cowboys were up 12-11 after a quarter.
In the second quarter, big brother Huxley Lingenfelter got on the board for CGD, but fans saw the lead change hands a few times.
Sioux Central held a one-point advantage at halftime, and soon Huxley and JD Morrical helped CGD explode for a 10-0 run to open the third.
The befuddled Rebels finally stopped the run after a timeout. Later, Sioux Central senior Koen Glover recorded a triple to make it 36-29 CGD heading into the final quarter.
Lane and Huxley Lingenfelter had back-to-back buckets in the fourth, but Sioux Central continued to keep pace within a few points.
Sioux Central guard Owen Mills poured in 30 on the night and even connected on a late three to bring the Rebels back within striking distance, but reliable free throw shooters JD Morrical and Tristan Kakacek helped seal the deal by converting high pressured shots for CGD down the stretch.
Huxley Lingenfelter finished with 15 points, 12 boards, three assists, and a block. He cleaned up on the offensive glass throughout the game and corralled five offensive rebounds.
Lane chipped in 14 points, six rebounds, and two steals, and Morrical came through with 12 points and five assists.
Kakacek had six points and two steals, and freshman Maxton Downing added two points and three assists.
With the 57-55 win, the Cowboys advanced to face host Southeast Valley (20-1 overall) in the Class 2A – District 2 final on Tuesday, February 24. Tip off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Gowrie.
