ANAMOSA — It wasn’t just forfeits that propelled the Raider wrestling team to another dual meet triumph Thursday, January 5, but an impressive performance out on the mat that helped propel the hosts to a 47-36 victory hosting Cascade.

“I thought we wrestled tough all match long,” said Anamosa wrestling coach Ron Timp as his club pulled away late from the Cougars for the 11-point triumph as his team also hosted North Linn in the triangular. “I really thought we stepped it up quite a bit after opening the night against a very good North Linn team. The kids were confident and in great shape and went out onto the mat and showed that against Cascade.”

Anamosa received four forfeit wins from the Cougars while the Raiders also handed Cascade four forfeits of their own.

No problem points
Anamosa sophomore Derek Young had no problem scoring points against Cascade’s Matt Phab posting a 17-0 triumph in the final match of the night actually played out on the mat Thursday, January 5. The win helped the Raiders post a 47-36 triumph. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski)

ANAMOSA — For three quarters, Raider girls basketball coach Jack Leighty couldn’t have possibly asked for anything more than what his club was giving on the floor hosting Maquoketa Valley Friday, January 6, in the first game back off the Christmas break for both teams.

“This was probably our best game of the year as far as playing so well for so long,” said Leighty. “This was our most complete game of the year no doubt.”

Anamosa (3-8, 3-4) played the kind of basketball Leighty and Raider fans enjoyed watching for more than three intense quarters hosting the Wildcats, but in about five fateful minutes of the final frame, the lead disappeared and then so did the win.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the way the girls played all night long,” said Leighty. “We just need to learn how to finish games off. Once we are able to do that, we’ll start piling up more wins. But these close games just don’t seem to go our way down the stretch when we are holding a lead in the fourth quarter.”

Which is exactly what Anamosa was doing against Maquoketa Valley in the first battle between the two teams that did not have championship-type implications.

“As far as that aspect went, there was no extra pressure to win this game,” said Leighty. “Maquoketa Valley and us are in rebuilding mode this year, but the two teams still played a pretty spirited game.”

The Raiders jumped out quickly against the Wildcats taking a 7-0 lead before settling in for an 8-4 lead after one quarter of play.

Bryn Gerber, Paige Goetz and Traci Dirks helped spark the early success as the Raiders continued in the second stanza taking a 20-14 lead into the locker room at the half.

“We were patient on offense and getting high quality looks at the basket and doing all the right things we needed to do offensively to win,” said Leighty. “Through the first three quarters we were knocking those shots down too, but in the fourth quarter we struggled even getting many good looks at the basket and Maquoketa Valley took advantage.”

On target
Anamosa junior Traci Dirks (left) fires a pass to freshman teammate Chelsey Bildstein during second half action from the Raiders’ tough 51-46 loss Friday, January 6. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski)

The Raiders led 28-21 before the Wildcats closed the third quarter on a 11-6 spurt to close to within 34-32 at the third quarter horn.

Sarah Stelken drilled a 3-pointer in the opening moments of the final frame giving the Wildcats their first lead of the entire contest, but two Dirks free throws put the hosts back on top 36-35.

Krista Steger then hit a shot for the visitors but Goetz answered for Anamosa as did Gerber giving the hosts a 40-37 edge. Steger scored again, but two Sara Schultejans free throws made it 42-39 Raiders.

Steger continued her hot play drilling another field goal and added a free throw knotting the score at 42-42, then Meg Kramer hit a free throw with 3:05 remaining to give the visitors a lead they would not lose the rest of the way.

“We continued to battle though,” said Leighty. “We were struggling, but we were still giving great effort.”

Rachel Huber added a field goal with 2:56 remaining and when Steger scored yet again and Stelken followed, Maquoketa Valley had a 49-42 lead with just 55 seconds remaining.

Kelsi Dearborn scored with 43 seconds remaining cutting the Wildcat lead to five points, but free throws by Steger, Kramer and Stelken sealed the Raiders’ fate in the tough five-point defeat.

“We shot the ball well from the line and from the field,” said Leighty. “Those have been things we’ve struggled with this year but not tonight. We’re getting better and we’ll continue to do that.
This team works too hard not to get better.”

Goetz led the Raiders with 17 points.

ANAMOSA — It was a tale of two halves for the Raider boys basketball team Friday, January 6. Actually, it was a tale of one quarter that cost Anamosa as they hosted Tri-Rivers Conference rival Maquoketa Valley.

“This is starting to be a pattern and we need to figure out why,” said Raider boys basketball coach Kevin Barnes after his team played well for three quarters and especially in the contests first 16 minutes before succumbing to a 58-44 loss. “We played very well in the first half (against Maquoketa Valley). At the half we only had two turnovers and shot 54-percent from the floor. Second half we have 11 turnovers and shot 37-percent from the floor.”

Anamosa (2-4, 2-3) started off a bit slow offensively, but once the first hoop fell, things began to flow much smoother as the hosts trailed just 12-10 after one solid quarter of play.

Ben Yanda and Colten Kelly keyed the Raider offensive resurgence as Yanda connected three times from beyond the 3-point arc while Kelly came off the Anamosa bench and added three quick hoops.

“Without a doubt, two of our brightest spots the first half were the play of Ben and Drew Corpstein,” said Barnes. “Ben has really been struggling with his shot so far this year, but he has been putting in extra time after practice and it paid off tonight. Drew really practiced well over the break and with Colten getting into foul trouble tonight, he got his chance and played well.”

Setting the tempo
Anamosa sophomore Colten Kelly drills a jump shot scoring two of his eight points during the Raiders’ 58-44 loss hosting Maquoketa Valley Friday, January 6. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski)