The Ankeny Christian Academy boys’ basketball team got off to a promising start in Tuesday’s game at Fort Dodge St. Edmond.
The early momentum, though, didn’t last.
The top-ranked Gaels used a 12-0 run to erase a 10-8 deficit and went on to post a 78-58 victory in a Class 1A district final. The loss ended a seven-game winning streak for the Eagles, who finished the season with a 20-5 record.
“We are looking forward to building on this season that included 20 wins, the first time we have reached that feat in six years,” said ACA coach Jay Nihart. “All glory to God for allowing us to play the game that we love!”
St. Edmond (22-2) has now won 12 straight games–11 of them by double digits. The Gaels will play Riverside (14-10) in the substate final on Saturday at the Knapp Center.
“Our game plan was to make guys other than (Hunter) Horn beat us, and everyone did their job for them,” said ACA junior Jed Rood. “They didn’t have a single weak guy on the floor.”
St. Edmond shot 61.2 percent from the field (30-of-49). The Gaels made 7-of-17 attempts from 3-point range (41.2 percent).
The Eagles, meanwhile, shot 38.7 percent (24-of-62) and were just 6-of-27 from behind the arc (22.2 percent).
“I am grateful for our four senior players–Andrew Mora, Isaac Venema, Lucas Erickson and Tyson Fincham,” Nihart said. “Each of them led unselfishly throughout the season and adapted to their roles throughout their career of ACA basketball. I also want to give a special shoutout to our senior managers, Noah Huckaby and Noah Jackson, for humbly serving our team.”
Sophomore Kade Clarkson led the Eagles with 14 points. He went 4-of-10 from deep.
Marcus Pedersen and Rood each added 10 points. Pedersen also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
The Gaels took an early 5-2 lead before ACA responded with back-to-back 3-pointers to move ahead for the first time. The Eagles later scored a basket with 4 minutes 28 seconds left in the first quarter to break an 8-8 tie, but St. Edmond then closed the period with the decisive 12-0 run that turned the game around.
ACA got a bucket to open the second quarter, but that was as close as the Eagles could get. The Gaels built a 38-23 halftime advantage and then extended the margin to 57-35 after three periods.
“I’m proud of our guys for coming out with great energy and ready to fight against the top team in 1A,” Nihart said. “We took an early lead, but unfortunately that 12-0 run made it difficult to climb back into the game.
“I’m proud of our boys, though, for fighting to the end,” he added.
