(Churdan, IA) — In front of a ton of elementary students in a Christmas state of mind, Paton Churdan hosted CAM in a rare afternoon game in the Rolling Valley Conference and the CAM girls cruised to an easy victory but the Rockets knocked off the Cougar boys to earn a split.
In the first game, Paton Churdan (0-7) only scored five baskets the entire game and CAM won easily 54-13. CAM’s pressure defense was way too much for the Rockets who turned it over constantly. P-C was only able to take 25 shots total. The Cougars led 14-5 through one quarter, 29-5 at the half, and 46-8 through three quarters. Maddie Richter led CAM (3-4) with 10 points, Ada Hansen with 9, Daphna Wahlert with 9, Courtney Follmann and Cracie Venteicher each added 7. CAM has now won 3 in a row.
On the boys side, it was a back and forth game with the Rockets holding off the Cougars 61-59. P-C was hot early with the three point shot — Paton Churdan was 5-11 in the first quarter but CAM was 7-8 from the free throw line in the opening period and Chase Jahde added a three as well. P=C led 17-16 at the end of the first quarter.
The Rockets cooled off in the 2nd quarter — they were only 1-4 on their threes — while Jahde and Collin Bower got hot. Jahde hit 2 threes and Bower was able to hit some shots in the paint. CAM built a 30-27 lead at the half.
P-C would not go away — their leading scorer Trevon Keely did not play the entire second quarter because of foul trouble and was held scoreless in the first half. Keely had 8 points in the third quarter and Phoenix Hartman provided some big minutes and big shots. Jahde hit two more threes in the quarter and the game stayed close, P-C led 47-45 going to the 4th.
CAM would rally in the 4th quarter — Carson McKee hit a three and a deuce to give the Cougars the lead again. The game was tied with 4:30 when Hunter Saffell hit a three for the Rockets to take a 55-52 lead. Jahde answered with his 6th three pointer of the game to tie it at 55. Then Keely hit back to back jumpers and P-C led 59-55 with 2:26 left. Jahde tried another three that missed but Coby Veinteicher got the rebound and put it back in. After a Rocket turnover, Bower hit a shot in the lane to tie it at 59-59 with 37.8 seconds left.
On the next possession, Hartman would drive the lane and force a foul — he would drain both free throws and the Rockets led 61-59 with 37.5 seconds left. CAM had a chance but Bower would be called for travelling for a key turnover. Cadyen Stream was fouled with 14.8 seconds left and could put the game away but missed both free throws. CAM called a timeout with 11.8 seconds left and went to Jahde in the corner who had a good look to win it, but the three missed. Veinteicher got the rebound but it missed as well and Paton Chrudan survived for the win.
Phoenix Hartman averages 6.0 ppg but he had 21 points to lead Paton Churdan (2-4), Trevon Keely had 14, Cayden Stream added 13. P-C was 7-24 from three point land but 5 of those threes were in the first quarter.
CAM (2-4) was led by Chase Jahde with 28 points, Collin Bower had 19. It was the last game for both teams before the winter break.
