Jackson Lamb and the Nodaway Valley Wolverines proved too much for the Paton-Churdan Rockets in the Class 1A District 13 final game at Panorama Thursday night. The Wolverines, who entered the game at 17-6 on the season, topped the 20-3 Rockets 66-48 to take the district title. The Wolverines will advance to a substate game Saturday, while the Rockets will turn their attention to the spring track and field season.
The Wolverine defense was effective in shutting down the Rockets’ shooters in the first half, taking a 14 point lead in the first seven minutes of the game, and finishing the first half with an 19 point lead, 39-21. P-C’s twin engines, junior Noah Juergensen and senior Jake Carey, were held to just seven and two points respectively.
NV junior Lam went into the game averaging 24.8 points per game. The Rockets kept him away from the basket, but he scored five 3-point shots and finished the first half with 17 points. Of the Wolverines’ 39 first half points, 27 of them came as 3-point baskets.
The Rockets matched the Wolverines in scoring in the second half but the deficit was too great. The final margin was 18 points, the same as at the half.
The second half was slow going, as officials called 11 fouls against the Rockets and nine against the Wolverines. Lamb was successful at drawing fouls; he went to the line 14 times, all in the second half, and made eight, well below his 74.8 percent season pace. Lamb finished the game with 30 points: six 3-pointers, two field goals, and his eight free throws. The Wolverines were 10 for 17 (58 percent) at the line. The Rockets were two for five at the line in the second half and three of six for the game.
Carey scored 16 points, including two second half 3-point baskets, in the last game of his high school career. Classmate Colton Fitzpatrick scored 10 points, with a field goal and a 3-pointer in each half. Noah Juergensen scored 15 points, freshman Joe Towers scored three points on a long basket in the first half, and freshman Jake Berns and senior Dylan Burgart each scored two points.
The Rockets shot at 45 percent from the floor, very close to the Wolverines’ 48 percent. The difference came in 3-point shots and free throws. From beyond the arc, the Wolverines made 12 of 26, for 46 percent, while the Rockets made five of 18 for 27 percent.
Juergensen scored his 1,000th point during the game and will be inducted into the Rockets’ 1000 Point Club at a community pep rally Friday at 9:45 am at the school. The public is welcome.
