(Rockwell City, IA) — Remsen St. Mary’s specializes in a physical style of defense and AC/GC has a high powered offense. On Saturday night, it was the defense that sent the Hawks to the state tournament winning 57-49 in a Class 1A Substate Final at South Central Calhoun Middle School.
AC/GC could not buy a bucket early, going 2-9 from the field in the first quarter and missed their first four three pointers. Remsen led 12-6 after one period. The Chargers found their touch in the 2nd quarter, going 7-11 from the field and they cut a 10 point Remsen lead to 5 at the half when Noah Kading hit an off balanced three just before the buzzer. The Hawks took a 29-24 lead into the locker room.
The cold shooting returned in the third quarter — the Chargers were just 1-11 from the field with the only basket a Jathan South three pointer. Remsen outscored AC/GC 14-7 in the third quarter and rebuilt their lead to 43-31.
Remsen’s lead went to 45-31 early in the 4th quarter and AC/GC again found their touch — they went on a 13-3 run highlighted by threes from Jathan South and Joe Crawford. That’s as close as they got — Remsen went 10-13 from the free throw line in the 4th quarter to put the game away.
Fouls were a story in this game — the whistles were blown a lot in the 2nd half. South for AC/GC had to play in foul trouble most of the game when he picked up his 3rd foul midway through the third quarter. In the end, three players fouled out the game — Sam Schmillen and Landon Waldschmitt for Remsen and Joe Crawford for AC/GC. It would have been a completely different game if there weren’t so many fouls called. A total of 52 free throws were shot — the Hawks were 19 of 30 from the line, the Chargers 13 of 22.
AC/GC just never got on track offensively — they finished just 6-25 from three point land and 15-44 from the field for only 34 percent. Remsen St. Mary’s started the game in man-to-man but switch to a 2-3 zone that frustrated the Chargers most of the game.
Remsen St. Mary’s (21-4) was led by Collin Homan with 15 points, Sam Schmillen had 11, Landon Waldschmitt 10, Jeshua Phillips 9 and Carter Tentinger added 8.
AC/GC (22-3) was led by Jathan South with 14 points, Noah Kading had 13 and Payton Policky finished with 10.
Post Game Interview with Chargers Head Coach Lance Kading
