(Audubon, IA) — IKM Manning took a lead in the 2nd quarter and never relinquished it beating Audubon 61-52 on Thursday night in Audubon.
It was the final regular season game for both teams and the Wolves got revenge after the Wheelers won by 15 in Manning.
The game was tied 11-11 after one quarter — Ben Ramsey had 9 in the opening period and then kept the scoring going with 11 in the 2nd quarter while Ashton Ahrenholtz and Wyatt Danner added some points in the paint. IKM Manning built a 35-25 lead at the half.
Leading by 11 in the 3rd quarter, Brody Schultes led the comeback for Audubon scoring 8 in the third period and the Wheelers closed the quarter with an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 42-39. Audubon got the lead to one 44-43 with 6 minutes left. However, Brock Kusel hit a basket in the lane and then Danner hit a turnaround jumper and the lead was back to five 48-43. After Aiden Kjergaard got a lay-up, Isaac Blankman hit a huge three pointer with 3 minutes left. That was the biggest shot of the night and the Wheelers could not come back any further.
Ramsey had 20 points in the first half but did not have a field goal in the 2nd instead going 4-7 from the line finishing with a game high 24 points. In the first meeting, Ramsey had 25 but nobody else for IKM Manning (13-8, 9-7) was in double figures. This time Danner had 13 points and Blankman finished with 11 and Ahrenholtz added 8.
Audubon (13-9, 8-8) was led by Schultes with 19 points, Jorgen Nowatzke had 9 while Kjergaard and Austin Christensen each added 8. The Wheelers played without starter Carson Wessel who had a heavily bandaged finger.
The game was the final one for each schools in the Western Iowa Conference — both teams will be heading to the Rolling Valley next year. There could be a rematch next Thursday in the playoffs — Audubon hosts Lenox on Monday and the Wolves entertain Paton Churdan — if they both win they will have a rematch in the district semifinals.
