COUNCIL BLUFFS — Near the end of a fast-paced first half that featured 94 points, Iowa Western was even with No. 4 Indian Hills on the scoreboard but losing the battle of endurance.
Reiver players gasped for air while tugging on the bottom of their shorts while a deep Warrior bench rotated fresh body after fresh body onto the court.
In a two-minute span to end the half, which seemed to last merely seconds, Indian Hills reeled off 12 straight points. IWCC spent the rest of the night trying to catch up.
Although a late rally made it interesting, the Warriors held off the Reivers 91-85 at Kanesville Arena Saturday to improve to 21-1 on the season and 2-0 in Region XI play.
Iowa Western (16-6, 0-1) cut a 16-point deficit to four in the closing seconds, but it never made it all the way back from the Warrior run to close the first half.
“I think that basically cost us the game,” IWCC coach Jim Morris said. “We just got tired and we made some careless passes. That was the turning point. We played the whole second half just trying to catch up.”
Point guard Devin Brooks kept the Reivers in the game by scoring 22 points while helping his team manage the relentless full-court pressure of an athletic Indian Hills squad.
IWCC had 18 turnovers, but it forced 17 by the Warriors. The Reivers also held their own on the glass.
A 1-for-13 performance from 3-point range didn’t help the Reiver cause, either. On the other end, Gary Ricks drilled five 3s for the Warriors and led four in double figures with 19 points.
Jameel McKay had 17 points and eight rebounds for Indian Hills. His baseline dunk ignited the decisive run in the first half. He also threw down an alley-oop off the glass on a fast break.
Kelvin Dixon tallied 15 points and 11 rebounds for Iowa Western before fouling out. Alonzo Traylor and Xavier Munford added 16 and 13, respectively.
The teams meet again in Ottumwa, Iowa, on Feb. 18.
Indian Hills (21-1, 2-0)................53 38—91
At Iowa Western (16-6, 0-1)..............41 44—85
IH: Bobbitt 5-9 2-2 12, Hogue 4-12 3-8 11, Spearman 2-5 2-2 7, McKay 7-10 3-6 17, Stevens 2-2 0-0 4, Woods 1-3 0-0 2, White 3-5 1-2 9, Ricks 6-9 2-2 19, Haynes 3-6 2-5 8, Bennett 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 34-64 15-30 91.
IW: Dixon 7-15 1-3 15, Traylor 6-10 4-5 16, Munford 6-12 1-3 13, Brooks 8-18 6-8 22, Levy 4-7 1-2 9, Brame 1-1 0-1 1, Martinez 1-3 0-0 3, Pomlee 0-1 2-4 2, Lutes 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 34-69 16-28 85.
3-point goals: IH 8-17 (Bobbitt 0-2, Hogue 0-1, Spearman 1-2, Woods 0-1, White 2-4, Ricks 5-7), IW 1-13 (Dixon 0-1, Munford 0-4, Brooks 0-4, Levy 0-1, Martinez 1-2, Lutes 0-1). Rebounds: IH 36 (McKay 8), IW 36 (Dixon 11). Assists: IH 10 (Bobbitt 7), IW 10 (Brooks 4). Turnovers: IH 17, IW 18. Total fouls: IH 29, IW 25. Fouled out: Dixon.
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