Long Regular Season Ends with Loss for Osky Boys
by Matt Saville
The Chariton Chargers came to town Tuesday night looking to send a message to the Oskaloosa Indians that they are a good team and this is what Osky will have to face in the first round of the state playoffs. Chariton sent the message and that came in the form of a 66-45 loss.
Osky came out and played a decent first quarter as they traded baskets with the Chargers. Ki-Jana DeJong nailed a 3 pointer from the left corner and Osky jumped to a 3-0 lead. Chariton answered with what was going to be a huge trend for the night and that was either a drive to the basket or a layup, the score was then 3-2 Osky. DeJong found Junior Ryan Reiter with a beautiful feed and that tied it at 5-5. Chariton continued to pound and pound the ball inside and Osky was continually late on the help side rotation, and Sophomore TJ Hoekenson from Chariton was on his way to a huge night. Osky got a short jumper from Ryder Curtis and Max Johnson hit a floater down the lane as Chariton led 13-9 after the first quarter.
When the second quarter started the wheels quickly fell off of the wagon as Chariton drained a wide open three and that led to a 9-0 run to start the second quarter and that was a hole Osky would have to dig out of once again. Medlin stopped the bleeding with a strong move followed by a drive by Jack Moore and the score was 31-15. Wade Votroubek had a lay in and DeJong drained another 3 but Osky was still looking up a big hill. Osky’s defense had almost seemed to vanish as Chariton was having little trouble scoring at will on the inside. Jack Moore had a very nice reverse lay up to go into the half trailing 39-20.
Osky came out in the third quarter with DeJong trying to get Osky back into the game as he had a couple buckets, Johnson had a great finish on a break, but it was the defense that Osky just couldn’t figure out, as Chariton spread the lead to 27 points. By the end of the third, Chariton led 57-30.
Jordan Silvers started the last stanza with a nice up and under move coupled with Nate Van Veldhuizen drawing fouls and going to the line to knock down several free throws. Votroubek drained a 3 from the top of the key but Osky came out on the short end 66-45. Osky will now go to Chariton for a first round playoff game next Monday night.
Osky was led by Dejong with 10 pts. and 7 rebs., Moore 6 pts. and 2 rebs., Van Veldhuizen 5 pts. and 4 rebs., Votroubek 5 pts. and 4 rebs. and Medlin 5 pts. Oskaloosa finishes the season 1-20.