(Anita, IA) — In a non-conference doubleheader on Monday night, the CAM boys gave AC/GC one of their biggest scares of the season but the Chargers prevailed in overtime 71-69 while the AC/GC girls cruised to a 53-23 victory.
In the girls game, AC/GC (11-1) forced turnover after turnover from the Cougars. The Chargers went on an 11-0 run in the first quarter, led 18-6, 33-12 at the half and 41-19 through three quarters. Cam Richter led the way with 18 points, 8 coming in the third quarter including two three pointers, only 7th and 8th three of the season. Shay Lemke had 12 points and Stella Largent added 8. Maddie Richter led CAM (6-7) with 10 points.
Post Game interview with Cam Richter
The boys game was much closer but it was CAM that lead most of the way before AC/GC rallied to force overtime and then win in the extra period.
The Cougars went inside on AC/GC early in the game and it worked. Coby Veinteicher averages 3.3 ppg but he had 6 points in the paint in the opening quarter, Colin Bower dominated the boards and had 6 in the quarter as well. The Chargers, meanwhile, got points outside from three three pointers from Joe Crawford and Tommy Skram added another triple. It was tied 18-18 after one.
Chase Jahde ruled the court in the second quarter with 10 points all inside and Bower continued his strong play as well. The Chargers were 6-10 from the field in the first quarter but tailed off in the second and the Cougars built a 36-27 lead at the half.
The game slowed to a crawl in the third quarter as neither team could make shots — a Jonny Kading three cut the Cougar lead to 6 42-36 at the end of three.
That’s when Jathan South arrived. The senior averages 22 points a game but only had 2 through the first three quarters. The pace picked up and Makade Paulsen and Jahde hit back to back threes to give CAM a 50-38 lead with 5:59 to play. Kayden Winther added a deuce for the Cougars to give them their biggest lead 14 but South hit a three and Jonny Kading hit a three to cut the lead to 52-44. CAM pushed it back up to a 10 point lead but Payton Policky drained a rare three and after a stop South buried another triple to make 56-50. After trading baskets, South hit another three pointer to cut to a one possession game 58-55 with about a minute and a half left.
CAM would miss some key free throws down the stretch and they committed two key fouls to stop the clock and give the Chargers to score points with no time off the clock. South hit 3 key free throws and then Noah Kading would hit a three at the buzzer to tie the game at 64.
AC/GC would take the lead in the extra period — South had 5 points in the overtime. Trailing by 2 with 10 seconds left, Jahde fired up a three but it was just short and the Chargers held on for the win.
AC/GC (10-1) was led by Jathan South with 23 points, 18 in the 4th quarter. Noah Kading had 13, Paton Policky 12, and Joe Crawford 11.
CAM (4-8) was led by Chase Jahde with 22 points, Coby Veinteicher had 16, Collin Bower 15 and Gunnar Hogiueson added 11.
Post Game interview with Noah Kading
