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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday, January 25, 2007
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Jones County basketball battle
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
ANAMOSA — It appeared the Raider boys basketball team was dead and buried Tuesday, January 16, as a very talented Monticello team seemed to have things well under control early in the fourth quarter of their heated battle in Anamosa.
Then, all of a sudden, the Panthers lost their cool, lost control and almost lost the game as the Raiders made a late rally sending a packed white-out home crowd into hysterics.
“You know there is nothing more fun than a rivalry game,” said venerable Anamosa boys basketball coach Kevin Barnes as his team put a serious scare into Monticello before succumbing to a 59-57 setback. “As long as it’s kept in perspective. Tuesday was dangerously close to getting out of hand.”
Monticello took a 13-point, 53-40 lead and appeared to be well on their way to a big rivalry road triumph with 5:34 remaining in the fourth quarter before things began to get interesting.
Colten Kelly drilled a field goal at the 5:16 mark then added another a minute later and a free throw to close to within 53-45.
Trailing 54-45 with 3:07 left to play, Mitch Kelly stole the basketball and raced to the Raider rim looking for an easy lay-up, but Monticello’s Drew Ball made sure it wouldn’t be easy. |
Adam 4-0 Raider senior Adam Andreesen turns and shoots over a Monticello defender during Anamosa’s narrow 59-57 setback hosting the Panthers Tuesday, January 16. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Splitting the defense
Anamosa junior Colten Kelly splits the Panther defense in front of the white-out Anamosa student section for two of his game-high 24 points during the Raiders’ narrow 59-57 setback hosting Monticello Tuesday, January 16. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Ball tackled Mitch Kelly from behind and for the rough play, drew a technical foul from the referee John Hollensbe.
Ordered to go to the bench, Ball exploded in anger and ripped off his jersey, drawing yet another technical foul and was ejected from the gym.
With the crowd sent into a frenzy, Mitch Kelly calmly stepped to the free throw line and connected on both charity stripe shots the his brother Colten added 3-of-4 thanks to the two technicals and just like that, Anamosa was right back in the contest trailing 54-50.
The Raiders received the ball out of bounds and after Tony Lueken was fouled and connected on yet another free throw, Anamosa was within three points at 54-51. After Monticello’s Todd Tuetken missed on a pair of free throws with 2:34 left and again with 1:14 remaining, Danny Freese connected on a huge basket and drew a foul with 40.3 seconds left.
After swishing home the free throw, the Panthers extended their lead to 57-51. |
But back came the Raiders yet again as Andrew Peters drilled a long trey with 32.5 seconds remaining and after fouling Freese with 16.4 left, who missed both charity stripe shots, Anamosa had their chance but saw a pair of game-tying shots rim off.
“For the most part I am proud of the way our kids handled themselves on the floor, “ said Barnes. “We are improving in that area. A couple of times this season we have allowed our emotions to get the best of us but that is an area we are working hard to improve upon. Instead of getting mad or frustrated and reacting in a bad way, we are trying to get it to make us play even harder than we do.”
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Anxiously awaiting the outcome
The Anamosa student section anxiously watches as a Raider shot makes its way towards the rim in the final seconds during the thrilling contest hosting rival Monticello Tuesday, January 16. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Benny Welsch sealed the victory for the visitors swishing two free throws with 10.8 seconds left before Colten Kelly beat the final horn drilling a 3-pointer to end the scoring.
“As I step back and look at this game rebounding was the difference,” said Barnes. “For the second straight game against a quality opponent, we were beaten badly on the offensive boards. We have to shore this up.”
Colten Kelly was phenomenal once again pacing the hosts with 24 points and nine rebounds while also adding three assists and two steals. Lueken chipped in with 10 points while Mitch Kelly came off the bench and scored eight.
“I thought our effort was terrific,” said Barnes. “We looked better offensively than we have all year. We took care of the ball and took good shots most of the night. Our defense was solid, we just have to rebound better.”
The Raiders looked to get back on the Tri-Rivers winning track Friday, January 19, on the road at Starmont and after a sensational start against the host Stars, held on for a 58-49 victory.
“I’m not particularly thrilled with this game,” said Barnes as the Raider boys built an 11-point third quarter lead and looked to put the hosts away for good but struggled as Starmont’s pesky play kept them hanging around until the final horn. “We dominated the boards tonight and that is the reason we won, but just when I thought we were making strides, our emotions were a concern once again. We let our emotions dictate our performance and we just can’t do that. We have to get on an even keel. Our emotions are costing us too many possessions during the course of a game.”
Anamosa led 16-15 after one quarter and built a 29-24 lead by the time the halftime horn sounded.
A solid 11-5 spurt at the start of the third quarter had the Raiders holding a 40-29 lead and the advantage stayed the same at the third quarter horn, 42-31.
“Last time we played Starmont we allowed then to shoot 34 free throws and that really kept them in the game,” said Barnes. “Tonight, we did a much better job of playing defense and limiting their attempts.”
The Stars were 9-of-16 this time around as it was Anamosa who toed the free throw line a solid 24 times.
The Raiders continued to hold their 7-9 point lead throughout much of the final frame in taking the nine-point final.
“Colten got us going in the first half then I thought everyone contributed in the second half,” said Barnes as Colten Kelly paced the visitors with 24 points and also pulled down eight boards. “We were the aggressor.”
Lueken added 11 points while Andreesen led a Raider rebounding corps that grabbed 41 overall, with 11 boards. Skyler Miell added 10 rebounds.
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Anamosa girls star on the road
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
Taking the lane
Anamosa sophomore Paige Goetz drives to the lane against Monticello Tuesday, January 16. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
ARLINGTON— Leaving no doubt as to what the outcome was going to be on the road at Starmont Friday, January 19, the Anamosa girls basketball team let host Starmont know who was in charge.
“Our pressure really forced Starmont into quite a few turnovers and it turned into nice transition points for us,” said Raider girls basketball coach Jack Leighty after his team posted a resounding and impressive 62-42 triumph against the Stars. “We jumped out to the big lead and never looked back really. We kept with the pressure and got some of their key players into foul trouble and best of all, got everyone on the team quite a bit of playing time.”
Anamosa (7-9, 6-5) led 6-4 after the game’s first four minutes of play, but then closed the opening quarter on a whopping 11-4 spurt to hold a commanding 17-8 advantage heading into the second stanza.
From there the Raiders continued to roll using a 10-2 spurt with in the quarter to build a 27-10 lead and but the time the halftime horn finally sounded, Anamosa fans were more than comfortable with their team holding a 33-15 edge over Starmont.
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“We got their best player (Karina Berinobis) into foul trouble right away and they were forced to look to other options for scoring,” said Leighty. “They struggled with that in the first half and we just continued to attack and attack and built a pretty nice lead by the break.”
Anamosa’s offense continued to impressive right after the break as well as the visitors piled up an impressive 20 points in the third quarter and held a whopping 26-point lead, almost equalling the Stars’ point total for the first three quarters combined.
“The girls really stepped up and knocked down some nice shots,” said Leighty. “Not only that, but we did a pretty good job of taking care of the basketball too.”
Leading 53-27 entering the fourth frame, Anamosa cruised home for the easy rout scoring another nine points over the final eight minutes of play.
“This was a much better effort than the last time we played Starmont,” said Leighty. “We jumped out to a big lead against this same Stars team back in December but after doing nice things to build that cushion, all of a sudden stopped and we struggled to get a win. Not this time. We kept things going all game long.”
Traci Dirks sparked the visitors to the big early advantage scoring all 13 of her points in the first half of play.
Paige Goetz led the Raiders tallying 14 points overall and also added two assists and four steals.
Jackie Engelbart was a big spark off the Anamosa bench scoring 10 points while also adding three assists, five steals and five rebounds.
“Jackie was one of those players who really stepped up,” said Leighty. “Getting everyone into the scorebook for the first time this season was pretty nice too.”
Kayla Sanborn (seven points), Ryann Pratt (six), Maisie Timp (four), Christy Coons (three), Megan Lacey (two), Cammy Dole (two) and Chelsey Bildstein (one) all put the ball through the hoop in the contest for the Raiders.
Anamosa played host to rival Monticello Tuesday, January 16, and against a very talented and skilled Panther team, were handed a rough 58-41 defeat.
“We got off to a slow start then rebounded and made a run at them,” said Leighty. “But we just couldn’t hang on long enough to make another run at them at the end of the game too.”
Monticello jumped out to an 11-2 first quarter lead and it appeared right away the Raider girls might be in for a long night, but the host fortunes began to turn as Dirks began to take control.
“Traci really rallied us there in the first half,” said Leighty. “If not for her, we would have dug ourselves such a deep hole we’d never been able to dig out of.”
With Dirks attacking the Panther defense driving to the rim time and again, Anamosa closed the gap to three points by the first quarter horn trailing just 15-12.
The Raiders kept within range in the second quarter as well and at the halftime break were just looking up at a 27-24 deficit.
Monticello built a 10-point lead in the third quarter using a 10-3 spurt but by the horn, the Raiders were still in the hunt trailing 43-35.
“That’s when our struggles began again,” said Leighty. “We went through a four minute stretch where we didn’t score a point and against good teams like Monticello, you just can’t do that.”
A 5-0 Panther run built their lead to 13 points as the Raiders struggled mightily putting the ball through the hoop scoring just six points in the final eight minutes while Monticello tallied 15 of their own.
“We just need to get stronger,” said Leighty. “Monticello dictated tempo for the most part and got us into foul trouble too.”
Dirks and Goetz led the hosts scoring 13 points each.
Anamosa stepped out of Tri-Rivers Conference play and traveled to Bellevue-Marquette Saturday, January 20, and came up on the short end of a 51-39 score against the Mohawks.
A key 24-14 run by the hosts through the second and third quarters sparked Bellevue-Marquette to the triumph.
Goetz scored 10 points to lead the Raider offense against Bellevue-Marquette. |
Sister, brother roll records at Anamosa Bowling Center
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
ANAMOSA— For Jenny Houska and Foot Carlson, rolling sensational bowling games is the rule rather than the exception.
But even they were amazed at what transpired on the lanes at the Anamosa Bowling Center recently.
“I have to admit, I never thought I’d be able to accomplish this,” said Houska who rolled Anamosa Bowling Center women’s records with a 278 game and whopping 718 series Friday, January 5. “I actually didn’t even realize it was a 700 series until Foot said it and I almost couldn’t believe it. I knew with the way things were going it was at least a very nice 600 series, but 700 never even popped into my head as being something that I could accomplish.”
Houska becomes the first woman bowler ever at the Anamosa Bowling Center to top the amazing 700 plateau after rolling blistering games of 229, 211 and the final 278. |
Dominating duo
Jenny Houska and her brother Foot Carlson set the Anamosa Bowling Center lanes a blaze recently as Houska set a house woman’s record with her 718 series and 278 game while Carlson rolled only the 10th perfect 300 game in the alley’s history. The two rolled their amazing games a little over a week apart. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
But Houska wasn’t the only one celebrating in the family, as her brother Foot Carlson rolled a perfect 300 game during Men’s City Tournament action Sunday, January 14.
“Foot and I are pretty competitive, always trying to top each other in whatever we do,” said Houska. “I set a record then he has to come back and show me up a little over a week later and roll a perfect game. It’s been a pretty good run for the both of us lately.”
Houska finished her record 278 game with eight straight strikes and after adding the three games together, had the record for her own.
“It’s a pretty cool feeling being the first to accomplish something here,” said Houska who shattered the old series record held by Kenya Theilen with a 699 series set back in 2003.
Houska had already owned the game record at the alley rolling a 269 game. “When it finally sank in what I had actually done, I started making a lot of phone calls to family and friends.”
One of the first to get a call was ABC owner Tammy Seeley.
“I asked her if she had ever heard of any woman rolling a 700 series on her lanes,” said Houska. “She said she didn’t know of any, so I told her, you have now. I just did it!”
Houska also called her mother Barb Carlson and brother Jesse Carlson to give them the amazing news.
“I asked Jesse what his series-best was,” said Houska. “I was hoping this would beat it but I came up just short.”
Houska broke a series record that had lasted for nearly four years and she expects this 700 series mark and 278 game record to stand for quite some time.
“If anyone is going to be able to break those records though, it’ll be Kenya,” said Houska. “She’s an amazing bowler.”
After watching his sister roll her amazing game and series marks, Carlson went out and perfected just the 10th-ever 300 game at the Anamosa Bowling Center just a little over a week later.
“I’ve been bowling for more than 20 years and have never had a perfect game,” said Carlson who sports a whopping 199 average and is among the top bowlers at the alley. “I’ve seen people come so close to bowling 300 games before and come up just short at the end feeling the pressure of knocking down those final pins.”
Carlson felt the pressure himself as the alley’s became silent as he went for the perfect score.
“It helped me that my bowling partner Shannon Rippey was bowling well too,” said Carlson as the two competed in the Men’s City Tournament doubles event. “We were going back-and-forth and that took some of the pressure off until the very end.”
With nine strikes already accomplished, Carlson toed the line in the 10th frame sorely wanting the rare 300 game.
“I rolled the first ball and it felt pretty good,” he said. “The second ball wasn’t too bad either.
Now I was one strike away and I felt so overwhelmed I had to just take some time and collect my thoughts. I played the final ball out a little wider than normal but when all the pins fell again, it was a great feeling of relief.”
The 300 game was the first this year at the alley.
“This game probably wouldn’t have happened three years ago,” said Carlson. “Brett and Tammy have done a great job fixing this place up and turning it into a great environment for bowling. The lanes are better, the pins are better. Everything about the Anamosa Bowling Center is first-rate. Even the automatic scoring.”
Carlson and Houska come from a strong bowling family that includes their mother Barb, father Gary Sr. and brothers Jesse and Matt.
Houska’s husband Brian is also an accomplished bowler as well as her children Ty (10 years old) and Hannah (6).
Ty already boasts a solid 139 average and has been a regular member of the ABC junior bowling program.
Ironically, it was Foot who bought Jenny a new ball about a year ago and promised her she would roll a 700 series with it.
“He saw me roll several 600 series with my old ball,” said Houska. “When he gave me this one he told me I will get that 700 series. I guess he was right.” |
Midland sweeps dual meets
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
WYOMING— Looking for revenge against a good Monticello team Monday, January 15, the Midland wrestling team did what it took to get the job done coming through with a big 34-33 victory over the Panthers in a triangular that also included Springville.
“This was an exciting dual for us,” said Midland wrestling coach Erik Wagler after the thrilling one-point triumph. “It avenged an earlier loss against Monticello from the Maquoketa Duals. We won four-of-eight matches but got bonus points where we needed to and were able to pull off a one-point win.”
Bonus points came from Spencer Bowen, Kevin Reilly, Tony Fields, Tate Dusanek, Zach Krotz and Adam Gudenkauf.
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Major decision
Midland’s Spencer Bowen had his way with Monticello’s Calvin Ash recording a 13-1 victory during the Eagles’ 34-33 dual win Monday, January 15. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Bowen recorded a big 13-1 major decision over Monticello’s Calvin Ash at 125 pounds and after Reilly received a forfeit win at 130, Fields pinned Jacob Hartwig in 1:43.
A Dusanek forfeit at 145 pounds gave the hosts six more points as did a huge 4:59 pin triumph by Krotz over Zach Utter at 171 pounds.
Gudenkauf wasted little time in pinning Kyle Huseman at heavyweight and the Eagles had their big win.
The night opened for the hosts with a resounding 42-12 victory over Springville.
Bowen, Reilly, Fields, Dusanek, Krotz, Ryan Balichek and Gudenkauf all walked off the mat winners against the Orioles in the 30-point rout. |
Fielding a pin
Midland’s Mike Fields puts the finishing touches on a 2:14 pin triumph over Springville’s Mitch Meythaler during the Eagles’ 42-12 rout of the Orioles Monday, January 15. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
The Eagles traveled to Maquoketa Thursday, January 18, and came up on the short end of a 60-18 score against the Cardinals.
Reilly pinned Taylor Gorney at 130 pounds and Gudenkauf did the same to Ben McClintock in just 53-seconds. Balichek also scored for the visitors receiving a forfeit win.
Midland hit the road again Saturday, January 20, and finished 11th out of 13-teams at the L&M Invitational.
Gudenkauf led the way for the Eagles taking a title at 215 pounds opening with a 2:55 pin win over Josh Teel (Iowa City West JV) in first round action.
Against Drew Sheeder (Davenport Assumption) in the semi-finals, Gudenkauf tallied a 10-5 decision and in the championship, pinned Kyle Bass (Louisa-Muscatine) in 4:57.
Bowen turned in a fourth-place showing at 125 pounds opening with a tough 14-7 setback against Brode Hills (Louisa-Muscatine).
Bowen bounced back and pinned Austin Pauly (Ft. Madison) in 2:19 and Jordan Carry (Mediapolis) in 1:30 to reach the third-place match where he was edged in a narrow 10-9 final against Hills once again.
Reilly and Fields both placed sixth for the Midland team.
“This was a very tough tournament with lots of good wrestlers,” said Wagler. “We got a wake-up call in the first round but rebounded well the rest of the tournament.” |
Not too upset about the setback
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
WYOMING— Make no mistake about it, Olin girls basketball coach Wayne Lasack and the rest of his Lions want to win.
But after a 53-41 setback at Midland Friday, January 19, the Lions bench boss was disappointed his team couldn’t get revenge after a bitter heartbreaking loss at the hands of the Eagles earlier in the season, but not too upset about the setback.
“We have to play Midland in the first round of districts and we didn’t want to have to give too many things away,” said Lasack. “We still wanted this game very much though. The sting of the first loss against Midland last month is still there. We had that one won and let it slip away. This time we just did not show up with the right mind-set early on and got into some foul trouble too and with or lack of a bench, made coming back against a good Midland team that much tougher, especially considering they play about 15 girls.”
Olin (6-9, 1-6) and the Eagles ran up and down the court in a fast-paced contest that suited the Eagles’ style perfectly, but even with the up-tempo pace, the Lions hung tough trailing 15-10 after one quarter.
“We were rushing things in the first half and that’s not our game,” said Lasack. |
Passing options
Olin’s Kelli Bean looks to the lane dribbling the basketball in Wyoming Friday, January 19. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
“Then we got into the foul trouble too and had to sit some key players and Midland went on another run in the second quarter.”
The Eagles kept up the pressure and forced Olin into numerous turnovers that led the lay-ups or open transition points for the hosts.
“That was the difference really,” said Lasack. “Midland did a good job of taking us out of our game and forced us into doing things we didn’t want to do.”
Midland scored 17 points in the second stanza and held the Lion offense to 11 taking a 32-21 lead into the second half.
“Our girls kept battling and battling,” said Lasack. “Midland is a very physical team, but even though our kids never wore down, Midland’s depth played a factor in them winning this game at the end. |
Flying over the Eagles
Lion Kalli Hansen makes a move to the basket during Olin’s 53-41 setback in Wyoming against rival Midland Friday, January 19. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Josh Bentley did a nice job of working his bench.”
The Eagles went on a 12-7 run in the third quarter and took a commanding 44-28 lead into the final frame.
“Our effort was there and we never backed down from Midland’s challenge in a pretty hostile environment,” said Lasack. “Midland had that gym packed full of fans all wearing black but we weren’t intimidated.”
Kalli Hansen led the Lions scoring 15 points.
Olin hosted Andrew Tuesday, January 16, and against one of the top teams in the Big East Conference, played well even in a 53-39 defeat.
“We started off playing sluggish basketball but really bounced back and played well after that stretch,” said Lasack. “We seemed a bit intimidated early on against this senior dominated team but after we settled down, we gave them a game.”
The Hawks jumped all over the Lions early on leading 17-6 after just eight minutes of play, but the rest of the contest would see the Olin girls hang tough not allowing the talented visitors to run completely away and post a blowout triumph.
“They blew us out earlier this year with their amazing shooting,” said Lasack. “This time they struggled more with their shots.”
Olin rallied scoring 16 second quarter points and trailed 28-22 at the break.
The third quarter saw Andrew go on a 16-9 spurt to take a 44-31 lead into the final frame.
“We battled, but the age factor was a big difference in the end,” said Lasack. “They start four seniors and they’ve learned how to close out games and win. We’re getting better.”
Hansen was sensational for the Lions scoring 17 points to lead the way offensively while also grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing out three assists and swiping three steals.
Kelli Bean chipped in with another seven points while Makenzie Ginn and Emily Brecht each scored five points. |
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