Osky Boys End Rough Two Week Stretch with Big Win over Albia 66-58.
Oskaloosa Indians
by Matt Saville
The Oskaloosa boys basketball team has seen their share of highs and lows this season, and it doesn’t help when you play in one of the toughest basketball conferences in the state of Iowa. With that said, that is what makes you a tough and better team, not just this season but for seasons to come.
The boys have encountered some of the better teams of the Little Hawkeye Conference in the past two weeks, only to find several reoccurring problems. Those problems included not being able to take care of the basketball, struggling with pressure, both full court and half court traps, rebounding, and cold shooting. The boys fell to Pella Christian, Grinnell, Dallas Center Grimes and a very disappointing loss to Newton, who the Indians had beaten earlier in the season.
Then comes along a late afternoon non-conference game on Saturday. It was the Albia Blue Demons, including all-state guard Matt Baker and his crew, against the Indians. Albia quickly fired out to a 4-0 lead, as they were using the dribble drive to find early success. Finally, another Blue Demon basket was answered by a nice lefty hook from senior Ryan Reiter. Junior Wade Votroubek woke up from a month long slump as he grabbed a rebound and put it back on a lay in, followed by Reiter with an aggressive drive and layup for a 6-6 score.
Freshman Tanner DeKock hit a pull up jumper to knot the score at 8-8. Albia was starting what would be their theme for the day, as they would get to the foul line numerous times and make only one of two. Then senior Ki-Jana DeJong made a layup, followed by sophomore Jack Moore putting back in a layup for 12-9 lead for the Indians. Albia took advantage of a couple of Osky turnovers, making it back to the free throw line and capturing the lead 14-12 at the end of the quarter.
Senior Max Johnson picked a great time, at the beginning of the second quarter, to get his only points of the game. He nailed a big 3 pointer to take a 15-14 lead for the Indians. Baker showed why he is the player he is when he blew past the Indian defenders for a basket, regaining the lead for the Blue Demons. Reiter was keeping pace for the Indians only to be matched by Baker on the next couple possessions, resulting in the score being tied at 20-20. That’s where the momentum would turn. Reiter drained a long 3 pointer for a 23-20 advantage, while Moore followed with a fast break layup and DeKock had another pull up jumper, suddenly putting the Indians ahead 27-20. Moore was continuing to stay aggressive by driving for another layup and Votroubek grabbed an offensive rebound, laying it back in for a 31-20 halftime lead.
The third quarter opened with more of the same, as Votroubek caught fire on his mid-range jumpers and Moore and Reiter continued to fluster the Blue Demons. The Indians lead by as many as 19 points. Baker tried to keep the Blue Demons in the game but, as Coach Ryan Parker would say later, “Tanner DeKock played very good defense against Baker. People will see that he scored 22 points in the game, but they were a very quiet 22 points.” Osky went into the 4th quarter leading 49-32.
Knowing Albia was a very good basketball team you just knew they were not going to just throw in the towel and call it good for the day. The Blue Demons did not disappoint, as they pressed and trapped the Indians into 18 second half turnovers, causing the Indian’s lead to shrink. DeJong, Reiter and DeKock all hit crucial shots and free-throws down the stretch, helping to keep the Indian lead around the 10-12 point range. “The pressure got to us and we didn’t handle it well,” Parker said, “but we gutted it out.” Moore and senior Tanner Lanphier nailed down the final free-throws to seal the win 66-58.
Leading the way for the Indians was Reiter with a huge game of 16 pts., 16 rebs., 4 asst., and 2 blocks; Moore with 16 pts., 5 rebs., and 2 asst.; Votroubek with 14pts., 6 rebs., and 1 block; DeKock with 8 pts., 3 rebs., and 2 asst.; and DeJong with 7 pts., 6 rebs., and 2 asst.
Oskaloosa is now 6-12 on the season and is in action Tuesday at home. It is senior night for nine Osky seniors as they take on Norwalk in Little Hawkeye Conference action.
