NM Boys Fall in District Final
OTTUMWA – North Mahaska rallied time after time in its district final contest with Holy Trinity Catholic but could not overcome the Crusaders falling 70-66. Holy Trinity (19-5) will face Winfield-Mount Union Saturday for a berth in the Class 1A state tournament.
Holy Trinity jumped put to a 15-5 lead in the opener.
The game opened with North Mahaska at the free throw line due to an administrative technical. NM missed both shots then turned the ball over. The Warhawks forced a turnover and Gabe Hora dropped in a shot for the NM lead. HTC took a 6-5 lead then North Mahaska was held scoreless until 30 seconds into the second quarter as the Crusaders built a 15-5 advantage. With HTC leading 6-5, an administrative technical was issued against NM for a roster error. The Crusaders hit one of the free throws then added a basket.
Free throws became a big part of the contest and three point plays. Holy Trinity scored a rare perfect 22-of-22 from the field and drained 17 of 22 from the charity stripe. North Mahaska had 25 baskets and was whistled for 17 fouls to nine for the Crusaders. The Warhawks went 7-for-11 at the line.
It seemed that every time one team hit a three, whether the long ball or traditional the other would answer. North Mahaska was able to cut the lead to six by halftime, 29-23. In the second half HTC would increase the lead back to 10 or 11 only to see NM answer the call.
North Mahaska held the Crusaders scoreless for the final 2 minutes 22 seconds and pulled within five. In the final period, a Lucas Nunnikhoven 3-pointer tied the game at 57-57 with 3:17 to play.
In the final three minutes Holy Trinity hit 10-of-10 free throws. NM was able to hit baskets but none big enough to overcome the Crusaders.
It was the final game for seven Warhawk seniors, three of them starters. Senior Brayden Veiseth led North Mahaska with 16 points. Nate Sampson added 11 points and Nolan Andersen scored six points with six rebounds and three steals.
“Those three kids are tough,” said NM coach Seth Streebin. “They have worked hard. Brayden had big buckets tonight. Nolan and Nate were key to our success.
“The other seniors pushed our team in practice. They were there every day and made us a better team.”
Junior Asher DeBoef scored a double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. Hora added 13 points and Nunnikhoven six.
Holy Trinity was led in scoring by Luke Hellige with 24 points. Connor Gehling and Layne Rung each scored 15 and Sobczak Adam scored 12. Gehling recorded six rebounds and Maddox Rung had seven rebounds and seven steals.
“They have a nice team,” said Streebin. “Their three kids (Hellige, Gehling and Layne Rung) are tough to defend. They did a good job of getting to the free throw line. We knew they were big. That number 33 (Gehling) can jump out of the gym.”
