Slow starts, exciting endings!
The CGD Cowboys weren’t off to the best of starts on Friday night when they hosted Iowa Falls-Alden Cadets. 5-0, the Cowboys were seeking for a 6-0 record where their first place standing in the North Central conference would continue. At times, some could wonder if the first loss for the Cowboys was on the way, but in basketball, the game is never over until that final buzzer goes off.
“Let’s go! Move!” yelled Coach Jason Berning at the start of the first quarter. The Cowboys needed to pick up the pace, as they were just passing the ball instead of invading the Cadets’ defense to score. After a timeout was called by Berning, with the Cadets up 2-0 with 4:38 left on the clock, the Cowboys fired up after SR Connor State’s three pointer. The points started stacking up as the Cowboys’ energy and urgency improved. 7-4 would’ve ended the first quarter, only a three point game, but it was as if SR Jaxon Carpenter shook his head as he landed a three pointer to end the first quarter 10-4. Quarter 2 started off shaky for the Cowboys again, as the Cadets emerged into the second quarter leveling up the score. With every comeback for the Cadets, the Cowboys responded, maintaining the score at a tight race.
“Move!” Berning continued to yell repeatedly, as the Cowboys’ lead was nowhere near comfortable. With 3:52 left on the clock, the Cowboys were up 17-14. After the timeout, and as the first half was coming to an end, the Cadets capitalized after a major steal to put them ahead 20-19. Errors became much more prevalent in the remaining few minutes of the first half, as the Cadets capitalized on nearly each of them and secured the lead at the end of the first half 26-22. The first half was nearly 26-19, a much more difficult score to start with for the second half, but SR Coady Olson showed up as he landed a three pointer for the Cowboys before the first half came to an end. With slow starts in the first half, the Cowboys picked up the pace by the second quarter as the Cadets took over the lead.
The third quarter started with a controversial call from the refs, as State denied a two point lead for the Cadets. The Cowboys were down 31-32, and now with the foul called, the Cadets’ lead would likely increase. As the game remained a tight race, the Cadets were up 36-35 when another controversial foul was called by the refs after SR Jacob Moore stole the ball. With 1:31 left in the third quarter, Moore sank a three pointer for the Cowboys, giving them the lead with the score at 38-36 for the Cowboys. The third quarter ended with a 38-37 lead for the Cowboys, but the game was far from over. As the score continued to rise, with just a few points separating both teams, the fans entered a battle of their own. Announcing every dribble and pass for the Cowboys, the Cadets supporters surely tried to get into the minds of the Cowboys with constant heckling, screaming, and humorous chants when responding to the CGD’s chants. The Cadets had no cheerleaders during Thursday night’s game, but they sure made some noise.
Another stolen ball from Moore occurred, as the fourth quarter was halfway finished, with the Cowboys galloping with a 46-40 lead. The ball must’ve been magnetic to the hands of Jacob Moore, as he stole yet another ball from the Cadets. After Jaxon Carpenter’s two points added, plus a free throw, the Cowboys were up 51-42 and taking off with the lead. It seemed the Cadets fans were much quieter as the game neared its end. Instead, the Cowboys bench started chanting, along with the rest of the CGD supporters. Not only did the Cowboys steal the lead from the Cadets, the fans stole the noise and their voices as CGD took over the show. The game concluded with a 55-42 lead for the Cowboys, and once the buzzer went off, the entire atmosphere erupted like a volcano as the Cowboys clinched yet another victory.
Connor State led the charts for points with 18, and six rebounds. SR Jaxon Carpenter sank 13 points for the Cowboys, along with three assists, three steals, and seven rebounds. SR Aiden Harrington scored six for the Cowboys Friday night, along with seven rebounds. SR Coady Olson scored nine points, as Jacob Moore scored six with the addition of three crucial steals and four rebounds.
A weak start ended in a strong finish for the Cowboys, as they ended the week 3-0, and will be heading to Algona with a 6-0 record as they sit first in the North Central conference. Tip-off is set for Tuesday, December 21, at 7:30 PM.
