Moody returns but Central can’t hold men’s basketball lead
PELLA—The eagerly awaited return of all-conference guard Jaden Moody (senior, Cambridge, Ballard HS) gave the Central College men’s basketball team the emotional lift it was seeking Wednesday but not the victory it needed.
Moody made his first appearance since suffering an injury in a win over Wartburg College Dec. 4 and scored 15 points while restricted to 22 minutes of action in Central’s 91-82 loss to the University of Dubuque.
The Dutch (4-17 overall, 1-11 American Rivers) led by as many as 10 points, taking a 45-35 advantage at intermission. But a 56-point Dubuque second half let the Spartans (13-7 overall, 6-5 conference) escape. Central was within 84-80 with 1:58 left before Dubuque closed with a 7-2 flurry.
Coach Craig Douma said the difference was again on the glass, where Central was outrebounded 45-35, surrendering a critical 15 offensive boards.
“You cut those in half and you flat out win the game,” Douma said. “It’s as simple as that.”
Central shot 47.0% to Dubuque’s 43.1%, but just 17.9% from 3-point range, hitting 5-of-28.
“We just didn’t make open shots,” Douma said. “You have to make shots to win down the stretch. I can’t complain about the shots we got. I thought we got pretty good looks.”
It was another big night for guard Adam Flinn (junior, St. Louis, Mo., Lafayette HS) with 25 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Forward Caden Mauck (junior, Kansas City, Mo., Blue Springs South HS) had 12 points and seven rebounds while guard Drake Johnson (freshman, Stanton) and forward Keaton Rodgers (freshman, Peoria, Ariz., Sandra Day O’Connor HS) each had 11. Rodgers also had nine rebounds and two steals.
Mauck was limited to 24 minutes by foul trouble and Central was forced to go with a smaller—and younger—lineup part of the way. The Dutch had three freshmen on the floor at times with Rodgers, Johnson and Sam Beatty (Mount Pleasant).
“I thought all three freshmen played really well,” Douma said. “Keaton Rogers had one of his best games in a long time. He rebounded the ball. He defended. He made some shots, he made some nice moves and finished around the basket. Drake Johnson did some solid things and Sam Beatty gave us really good minutes on top of that zone.”
But Douma said it felt good to finally have a senior on the floor with the return of Moody. The Dutch, who have dropped 12 straight games, were 1-12 in Moody’s absence.
“Jaden gave us a big-time emotional boost,” he said. “He just brings a presence to the floor. His energy, his communication, and just the level of player he is, he draws so much attention and it really takes pressure off the other guys. It just opens things up for them as well. It’s great to have him back.”
Moody’s playing time in Saturday’s game with Simpson College will depend on how well he responds physically to Wednesday’s action, but Douma is hopeful that his minutes will increase as he is recognized at Senior Day at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium. It’s a women’s-men’s doubleheader with the men’s game starting at 4 p.m. Simpson thumped Central at Indianola 91-71 Jan. 11 and is 10-10 with a 4-7 conference record following a night off Wednesday.
“We’re very excited for Senior Day and honoring Jaden,” Douma said. “It will be an emotional day for him and the rest of the team. I think we’ll have a pretty nice crowd. We were very disappointed in how we played at Simpson the last time. So we’re going to come back and have a better game plan and be ready to work.”
A video webcast and live stats can be accessed via athletics.central.edu while the game will also be broadcast on KRLS-FM (92.1) and via www.kniakrls.com with Jon Mohwinkle providing the play-by-play.
