Road for Villisca boys ends in substate loss to Riverside
COUNCIL BLUFFS — The final game ever for the Villisca boys basketball team ended on the hardwood floor at Abraham Lincoln High School Saturday night.
The Blue Jays played their last basketball game as they fell short in their bid to join the girls team in the state tournament, losing to Riverside in the substate game 64-41.
Much of the focus was on Riverside senior forward Ricky Williams, who scored 26 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the field, with 18 rebounds, five blocks and four steals.
With Williams, the Bulldogs were able to jump out to a 13-6 lead in the first quarter against Villisca. Riverside built their lead from there, never looking back.
Williams has been a thorn in the side of Villisca in the past. The two teams faced each other at districts in 2011, with Williams scoring 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds on the way to a 75-57 win against Villisca.
The Blue Jays were looking to make one more appearance in the state tournament. Starting next season, Villisca joins Corning in a whole grade sharing situation as they will become the Southwest Valley Timberwolves. Villisca last made the state tournament in 2009.
Saturday night marked the end of a high school career for four senior starters. Travis Herzberg finished his last high school game as Villisca’s leading scorer, recording 25 points, including 4-for-7 from three-point range, with four steals and two blocks.
It was also the last game for senior forward Damon Sunderman, who picked up a double-double. Sunderman scored 10 points and had 11 rebounds. The other senior starters scoring points for Villisca were Austin Sorensen, who had four and Max Mauderly, who recorded two. Jacob Arnold is the other senior on the team.
Villisca boys basketball coach Jim Obermeier said after the Sidney game the team wouldn’t be able to get as far without the four starting seniors.
“What Damon does, we don’t have another kid on our team that can do it,” Obermeier said Friday night. “What Travis does, there’s no one on our team that can do what he does. What Austin does with his ball security and he’ll knock down three’s, we can’t do without him and Max when you give him an open look, he’ll knock down a bunch of shots.”
Leading the way for the non-senior players was Colten Drake, who had five rebounds, including four off the offensive glass, with two steals.
Villisca finishes the 2012-13 season with a 22-5 record.
Villisca 51, Sidney 44
Villisca was able to advance to substate when they defeated the Sidney Cowboys Friday night in Red Oak, in front of a packed crowd, 51-44.
The Blue Jays jumped out to an early lead and were able to stay ahead, despite attempts by Sidney to get back in the game and take over the lead.
Obermeier said the team was looking forward to a possible rematch in the postseason.
“I told the kids the other night, I don’t care who we play, but if we end up with Sidney, it will be a bonus because of what happened last time,” Obermeier said. “It’s a great way to play our last conference opponent against a team that won 21 ball games.”
Herzberg was once again the leading scorer as he recorded 16 points, with three assists and three steals.
“Earlier this month, they got us by a couple of buzzer beaters,” Herzberg said after the game. “They play good defense, they’re a really good team. We knew we could beat them, but tonight we just played better basketball.”
The big difference in the game was rebounding as Villisca finished with 32 total rebounds, including 26 defensively.
“They shot a lot of three’s in that second half. When they go in they look good, but when they don’t go in, you have a chance to extend your lead,” Obermeier said.
Mauderly had 13 points and six rebounds, while Sunderman scored 12 points with 10 rebounds, giving him a double-double.
Scott Vanderhoof scored six points off the bench for Villisca, while Drake had four points in the win.
Villisca avenged its Feb. 1 loss to the Sidney Cowboys.
Villisca 69, South Page 39
Villisca started out the week with a district semifinal win last Tuesday against the South Page Rebels. The Blue Jays had a one-point lead at the end of the first quarter, but exploded for 22 points in the second to pull out to a double-digit lead by halftime.
Mauderly led the way for Villisca with 26 points, including 6-for-13 from three-point range. Herzberg and Sunderman both had double-doubles in the win. Herzberg scored 16 points on 8-for-13 shooting with 14 rebounds (eight offensive), while Sunderman had 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting from the field and 17 rebounds.