Bluejays can’t keep pace with WildCards

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Northeast Nodaway freshman Wyatt Scadden drives Monday in King City.

KING CITY, Mo. — Northeast Nodaway has an extremely talented freshman core that will spend the next few years growing together as a varsity team. Stewartsville-Osborn had an extremely talented freshman core two years ago.

The Bluejays got a look at what the future may hold if they keep growing on Monday night in the King City Invitational, but Stewartsville-Osborn has been through those growing pains already and earned a 65-42 win in Monday’s quarterfinals.

“It was a tough game,” Northeast Nodaway freshman guard Bentin Roberts said. “We only have juniors and freshmen out here, so it is just a learning process this year and hopefully it’ll be better next year for Lance (Runde) and Reece’s (Gray) senior year.”

The game was back and forth early on with Roberts converting an and-1 to pull his team within 10-9.

“It is pretty cool to see us being a small team and trying to attack the paint like that,” Northeast Nodaway coach Ike Werner said. “They are going up with confidence, so it makes me proud of them.”

The WildCards leaned on their prolific 3-point shooting to slowly pull away late in the first quarter and early in the second. Ian Sanders and Campbell Stuart each hit 3-pointers to push the lead to 18-11. Roberts took on the assignment on Saunders.

“It shows me how to work hard and play through it,” Roberts said. “Knowing that he’s a good player, I can watch film, see what he does and what his go-tos are.”

Another Bluejay freshman, Liam Cordell hit a 3-pointer to get back within 23-18, but the WildCards stretched it out to double figures for the first time with Saunders scoring and then back-to-back Stuart baskets including a 3-point play for a 30-18 lead.

After a 33-22 halftime margin, Stewartsville-Osborn opened the third quarter with a 14-0 run to essentially put the game away.

“That is a really good team we just played and we held our own for a long time,” Werner said. “That makes me proud. We’ve just got to piece it all together now.”

Saunders led the WildCards in scoring with 20 points and the junior notched his 1,500th point in the victory. Stuart had 14 while Ryland Heintz had 12.

Freshman Wyatt Scadden led the Jays with 15 points while Roberts and Cordell each had nine. Lance Runde added six and Reece Gray had three.

“I just got to find my spot and make a play,” Scadden said.

The WildCards will play Albany on Wednesday in the semifinals while Northeast Nodaway will play South Holt on Wednesday at 5:45 p.m.

“These last few weeks we’ve been getting closer to getting wins and making the games tougher on other teams,” Roberts said.

Gilman City 53, North Nodaway 32

In Monday’s opening round of the Gilman City Invitational, the home squad was able to pick up a 53-32 win over North Nodaway. Camden Griffith had 28 points to lead Gilman City.

North Nodaway had nine points from Marek Stevens, four each from Hayden Marriott, Ridge Clements, Jordan DeLeon, Kaeden Nave and Jackson Keho, and three from Blaine Clements.

The Mustangs will play Union Star on Wednesday night at 5:45 p.m. in the consolation semifinals.