GREENFIELD — Central Decatur did something here Friday it hadn’t done since 2000, and in the process, positioned itself for its first Pride of Iowa Conference title in boys basketball since 1991-92.
The Cardinals held off a late rally by Nodaway Valley to defeat the Wolverines 57-54, improving to 11-0 in conference play.
Head coach Zach Clark said he believes it’s the first Central Decatur victory over Nodaway Valley since his senior season in 2000.
The win, coupled with Interstate 35’s victory over Bedford Friday, gave the Cardinals a three-game lead over all other teams in the conference.
“This is just a huge win,” Clark said. “It clinches us a first round bye in districts. It really solidifies our position in conference. We have to continue to play well, but it keeps us at the top. What a program he’s (Darrell Burmeister) run over the last 20 years. The size of the win depends on the size of the team you beat, and we beat a really good team and really good program.”
Trailing 53-45 with less than 3:30 remaining in the game, Nodaway Valley staged a furious comeback, having a shot to tie the game in the final seconds.
Nathan Andrews and Nate Venteicher knocked down 3-pointers and Tanner Armstrong scored a basket after a David Schweitzer offensive rebound. Andrews made one of two free throws to cut Central Decatur’s lead to 57-54.
After freshman Carter Boothe missed the front end of a one and one with 12 seconds remaining in the game, the Wolverines had an opportunity to tie the game. Nodaway Valley had already sank 10 3-pointers in the game to that point.
Jackson Lamb, who finished with 17 points, had to get rid of the ball and Schweitzer put up the last shot, which hit front iron. Central Decatur pulled down the rebound and ran out the final seconds of the clock for the win.
“Sometimes we foul there, but with so much time on the clock, we didn’t want to foul,” Clark said. “Once we got it out of Lamb’s hands, I got a lot more comfortable. We got a good contest on the shot and got the defensive rebound. We went man on that last possession, because we didn’t want to lose anyone.”
Central Decatur built an 11-point lead at 40-29 midway through the third quarter, but Dallas Kreager came in off the bench and sank a 3-pointer for the Wolverines, sparking a run that saw Nodaway Valley get back to within 46-45 on a Jackson Lamb layup and free throw.
“A couple of times we lost guys in the corner,” Clark said. “We had it at 11 and a kid who’s shot one three all year comes in and makes one. We had a chance to blow it open, but they made some big shots and came back.”
Peyton Pedersen led Central Decatur with 21 points. Nick Durell scored 12 and Aaron Linhart and Boothe each finished with nine points.
Noah Bishop and Kyle Palmer shared the duties of chasing Lamb around the court. The Nodaway Valley junior is one of the state’s top scorers, averaging 24.5 points per game.
The Cardinals played box and one against him most of the night, with Bishop and Palmer making any points he scored difficult to earn.
“We didn’t want to do anything where we let him get going,” Clark said. “He got some shots down, but holding him to 17 is a good night for us. Great job by Bishop and Palmer, getting in his face. He’s a unanimous first-team guy, so you just have to contain him, because you’re not going to stop him.”
The Cardinals host Bedford on Friday.