Boys display noticeable growth, even in road losses

Anytime you are on the road in the Pride of Iowa Conference, you know you are going to have to play your best basketball. When you travel to the league leaders, you know you are going to have to play even better.

Last Friday, the Nodaway Valley boys basketball team gave it all they could before falling 73-39 to the conference-leading Southeast Warren Warhawks. The Warhawks' win gave them a sweep against the Wolverines this season.

The theme of the week for the Wolverines was noticeable improvement. Even though the Wolverines were 0-2, improvement against Lenox and Southeast Warren became evident in this second go around between the schools.

SEW improved to 15-2 overall with the win while Nodaway Valley fell to 1-14. The Warhawks have a big game against Mount Ayr this week with the winner likely being the POI boys champion.

The Wolverines sported new pink out jerseys that were sharp in the game, but fell behind 21-9 after the first quarter. The Wolverines battled back though in the second quarter scoring 14 points to trail 40-23 at halftime.

The Warhawks didn’t mess around after halftime, using a 24-7 run to take control of the game. In the first meeting, Nodaway Valley had 24 points for the entire game. The Wolverines matched the Warhawks' nine points in the final quarter.

NV lost their fifth straight game with the setback. Southeast Warren won their second game in a row and third game in a row over the Wolverines. The Warhawks suffered their second loss of the season Jan. 20 at home to Interstate 35.

The Wolverines began the week with a game at Lenox on Tuesday, Jan. 21. The Wolverines lost to the Tigers 60-27 Dec. 10. Last Tuesday, the Wolverines nearly doubled their point output from the first game, falling 64-43.

The Wolverines trailed by only nine after the first quarter, 15-6. The Tigers used a 16-8 run in the second to build a halftime lead of 31-14. Nodaway Valley scored its most points in the game in the third quarter with 16, but trailed 53-30 going to the final quarter. In the final quarter, the Wolverines outscored Lenox 13-11. The win was the fourth by Lenox in the last four games between the schools and seventh in the last eight games since February of 2021.

Nodaway Valley was led by Ty Rardin with 10 points. He added four rebounds, a team-leading three assists and a steal to his stat line. Paul Berg and Titan Foster led with eight rebounds each.

The Wolverines have a three-game week this week with a pair of road games. The Wolverines were at Southwest Valley Tuesday before turning home Friday for Senior Night, when they play Martensdale-St. Marys. There is also a hot beef sundae supper night and pie auction during the girls basketball game. Saturday the Wolverines will make a short trip to Earlham for a non-conference game.