OTTUMWA — The Marshalltown boys’ basketball team overcame some early offensive woes and answered every Ottumwa challenge, besting the Bulldogs 45-34 on Friday night at Evans Middle School.
The visiting Bobcats (6-12) held Ottumwa 12 points below its season average, breaking open a close game with solid defense and just enough offense.
MHS sophomore point guard Drake Gersema led the team with 16 points, five assists and three steals as the Bobcats captured the Iowa Alliance Conference cross-divisional contest. Kyle Smith added 12 points.
“It’s good to have balanced scoring,” said MHS head coach Michael Appel. “When different options get it going early, that usually gives our whole team confidence and allows us to play a lot harder.”
Five different Bobcats scored in the first quarter as Marshalltown took an 11-8 lead. MHS had a nine-point advantage at the half, 24-15, and led 32-24 after three quarters.
Ottumwa (6-11) tried repeatedly to cut into the deficit, but the Bobcats fended them off each time.
“Give Ottumwa credit, they did a nice job on Kyle and made it hard for him to get open looks,” Appel said. “Our guys did a nice job for the most part reversing the ball and cutting when they were denying us and then kept that ball moving. When we need to be, be aggressive to the rim and get to the basket and good things will happen for us.”
Jacob Hayes contributed seven points, LaMar Johnson added six, Adam Boone made a 3-pointer and Jamison Niehouse hit a free throw for Marshalltown. Smith secured a team-leading nine rebounds.
Parker Derby led Ottumwa with 13 points, but the Bulldogs suffered their seventh consecutive loss.
The Bobcats are back out on the road Saturday, visiting Des Moines North for a 3 p.m. game.
Marshalltown 45, Ottumwa 34
MARSHALLTOWN (6-12) — Jamison Niehouse 0 1-4 1, Drake Gersema 6 3-3 16, Kyle Smith 5 0-0 12, LaMar Johnson 3 0-1 6, Jacob Hayes 2 3-3 7, Adam Boone 1 0-0 3. TOTALS 17 7-11 45.
OTTUMWA (6-11) — Joe Graeve 0 0-0 0, Nehemiah Wolfing 3 0-0 8, Matthew Mitchell 2 0-0 5, Parker Derby 4 5-8 13, Kooper Hugen 0 0-0 0, Mason Gravett 2 0-0 5, Tucker Long 0 0-0 0, Jace Mitchell 0 0-0 0, Adyen Robinson 1 0-0 3. TOTALS 12 5-8 34.
MHS 11 13 8 13 — 45
OTTUMWA 8 7 9 10 — 34
3-Point Goals–MHS 4 (Smith 2, Gersema, Boone), Ottumwa 5 (Wolfing 2, Gravett, Mitchell, Robinson). Team Fouls–MHS 7, Ottumwa 12. Fouled Out–none.