Oskaloosa Shoots Lights Out In Second Half To Advance
Oskaloosa’s Cole Henry takes it to the hoop on Tuesday afternoon over Sergeant Bluff-Luton.
Des Moines, Iowa – The Oskaloosa Indians stormed out of the gates in the second half against Sergeant Bluff-Luton Tuesday afternoon to move onto the final four against Waverly-Shell Rock.
The Indians were looking for their legs in the first half, and Oskaloosa Head Coach Ryan Parker said that the nerves of stepping onto the big stage maybe played a factor more than they counted on. “They had been there; we had not.”
The second half was all Indian, as the Indians shot 70% from the field. In particular, the Indians totally overwhelmed Sergeant Bluff-Luton 21-6, leading to a final score of 63-47 for Oskaloosa.
Parker said there wasn’t any change from the first half to the second, only encouraging the team that the 2nd half would be different. “People think that it was a big rah-rah speech, but it really wasn’t. It was just a sort of, we’re fine, down 5. We didn’t make the shots; we will in the 2nd.”
“I thought we played a little harder in the 2nd as well,” added Parker.
“Tanner’s our guy on defense,” said Parker of the effort by senior Tanner DeKock. “He’s the guy that gets very little praise and has to guard the other team’s best player night in and night out. He’s sort of cherished that role and really looks forward to it every night.”
On offense, sophomore Xavier Foster stepped into his element. ‘Honestly, looking back on it, it doesn’t surprise me a whole lot because he’s played on a big stage. Maybe not in a big arena like that, but with Team USA Basketball and stuff like that,” added Parker. “Xavier can shoot it.”
Sophomore Xavier Foster lead the Indians in scoring with 18 total points. Spencer Tucker had 13 points, with Cole Henry adding 11.
Senior Jared Kruse headed the Indians off the boards, pulling down 11 rebounds, with Spencer Tucker adding five rebounds.
Foster had three blocked shots in the effort, and Henry had one blocked shot. Henry had five assists in the game, while Kruse had four.
For Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Sam DeMoss lead the team in scoring with 11, while Daniel Wright added 10. Jeremiah Khat had nine rebounds in the contest.
Oskaloosa will play in the semi-final round against Waverly-Shell Rock on March 8th.
Tournament coverage made possible with support from:
Wyndell Campbell State Farm, Clow Valve Company, Penn Central Mall, Gardner Collier Jewelry, MidWestOne Bank, Legacy Real Estate, Mahaska Communication Group, Langkamp Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Kinetic Edge Physical Therapy, and Mahaska Health Partnership.
MidWestOne Insurance Services, Interiors by Val, Boyle & Henderson, Stam Greenhouse, EyeCare Partners, Mahaska Drug, and United Way.
