Slow start plagues C-M boys in loss to Pleasantville

COLFAX — Colfax-Mingo head boys basketball coach Mike Hunsberger and his coaching staff called for a box-and-one defense against Braylon Bingham on Thursday.

The sophomore guard came into the game averaging 25.5 points per game and no one else on the Pleasantville roster scores more than eight per contest.

Unfortunately for the Tigerhawks, a few of Bingham’s teammates made shots early and a slow start plagued the C-M boys basketball team during a 74-42 non-conference home loss.

“We struggled to make the shifts we needed to make. It takes a lot of hustle, especially when you play in a box-and-one against a really good player like Bingham,” Hunsberger said. “There were flashes where they showed the hustle it takes to cover those guys up. It wasn’t a lack of effort. It’s continuing to grow and realizing what it takes to defend at this level.”

Pleasantville led 22-7 after one quarter and 39-19 at halftime. But the Tigerhawks held Bingham to four points after the first and 11 at halftime.

But his teammates were up the challenge as the Trojans made 10-of-27 from 3-point range in the game, doing most of that damage from the corners on each side of the floor.

“We didn’t practice to give those up or let them take those shots,” Hunsberger said. “But they know what (Bingham) is capable of. We did an overall OK job on him. He got some points late in the game, but their other guys stepped up big for them tonight.”

Pleasantville’s Jaydin Boone is averaging 6.1 points per game but scored the team’s first seven on Thursday. Trindon Phipps is scoring 7.6 points per game but put in eight at the end of the first to help the Trojans build their early lead.

Harrison Rhone made a 3-pointer and Wyatt Carpenter hit a layup later to bring the Tigerhawks within 12-7. But a 10-0 run to end the quarter was too much to overcome and the hosts never got closer than 12 the rest of the way.

Rhone opened the second with a triple, but Pleasantville (4-4) extended its margin to 31-11 after a 9-1 run.

Carpenter produced a career-high 14 points in the loss. Seven of those points came in the final few minutes of the second as his 3 and back-to-back layups trimmed the margin to 34-18, but Bingham ended the half with a trey and a layup of his own.

“He was frustrated that he wasn’t in the starting the lineup the last few games,” Hunsberger said about Carpenter. “He really turned it up and showed what he was capable of. And he started the second half because of the amount of hustle he was giving in the first half.

“When he commits to that level of energy and hustle, the rest comes. He was great tonight, and that’s what we’ve been asking of him.”

The Tigerhawks’ best quarter was the third as they were outscored 15-13. Carpenter opened the frame with a 3 and ended it with a layup at the buzzer.

Isaiah Lewis also scored back-to-back buckets in the frame and Rhone converted a pair of baskets inside, too.

Colfax-Mingo opened the third with 9-2 run, but Pleasantville answered with a 13-0 run that extended its advantage to 54-27.

The big run in the first half from the Trojans was set up by too many Tigerhawk turnovers. They finished with 19 in the loss and shot 36 percent from the floor.

“It comes back to composure. We just need to calm down, especially at the beginning of games so we don’t dig ourselves a hole, and make the passes we know we can make,” Hunsberger said. “Once we start to do that, we can break a press. It’s just a lot of teaching moments. It’s a process though.”

The Trojans opened the fourth with a 14-1 run to put the victory away.

Jace Lewis scored all four of his points in the final stages of the game, and Colfax-Mingo put in 10 of its 11 points in the frame in the final few minutes.

Rhone led the Tigerhawks with 11 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Carpenter scored a career-high 14 points, Isaiah Lewis added seven points and six rebounds and Gage Byal chipped in three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Chase Trotter grabbed four rebounds and Shane Hostetter and Wyatt Jay pulled down three boards apiece.

Colfax-Mingo (2-8) was 4-of-13 from 3 and 2-of-7 from the free-throw line in the loss and was out-rebounded 35-29.

Pleasantville won its seventh straight game against the Tigerhawks and is now 10-5 in the series since 2009.

Bingham led the Trojans with 25 points, 10 rebounds and four assists and Boone added 13 points and four boards.

Freshmen Phipps and Nolan Fichter combined for 17 points on 5-of-9 from 3.

Belle Plaine 46, Colfax-Mingo 43

BELLE PLAINE — The Tigerhawks led after the first quarter and outscored Belle Plaine in the fourth, but the Plainsmen had too much separation in the middle two quarters during a 46-43 home win in South Iowa Cedar League play on Tuesday.

Rhone put in 24 points, Hostetter grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds and Byal tallied seven points and four boards in the loss.

Colfax-Mingo led 11-9 after one and outscored Belle Plaine 11-6 in the fourth. The Plainsmen won the second 12-6 and the third 19-15.

Rhone pulled down four rebounds and was 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, Hostetter had five points, 11 rebounds and two steals and Carpenter dished out a career-high six assists and added two boards.

Jace Lewis grabbed three rebounds and Trotter dished out two assists.

The Tigerhawks (2-8, 2-6 in the SICL) shot 29 percent from the floor, made 5-of-26 from 3 and connected on 8-of-10 from the foul line. They committed 10 turnovers.

Belle Plaine (3-8, 3-4) defeated Colfax-Mingo for the seventh straight time and the Plainsmen are 8-2 in the series since 2016.

Sam DeMeulenaere led the Plainsmen with 20 points and 13 rebounds and Lane Vokoun added 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Ty Alcott finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and Belle Plaine made 1-of-11 from 3 but out-rebounded the Tigerhawks 41-27.