Hounds defense stifles Grayhounds

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG

PCC EDITOR

FORT MADISON - A balanced scoring attack and some solid team defense proved to be too much for visiting Burlington as Fort Madison dumped the Grayhounds 53-36 Tuesday night at the Hound Dome.

It took a couple of minutes for the Hounds to get in the right gear as Burlington jumped out to a quick 4-2 lead with the Hounds suffering through some cool shooting early on.

But Brandon Keester came off the bench and hit his only three pointer of the game from about 22 feet out and that seemed to get the Hounds back on track and gave them their first lead at 7-6.

The Grayhounds got a 3-pointer from freshman point guard, Michael Alexander to retake the lead. Bloodhound junior Logan Rashid converted a runner to tie the game at 9 and the two teams traded a bucket to end the quarter square at 11 all.

The Hounds then went on a 17-7 second quarter run highlighted by six points from senior Treavor-James Kokjohn and five from senior Kaleb Cresswell to push a 30-18 lead. Both teams turned to defense in the third quarter as a total of 13 points were scored combined by both teams. Rashid had five for the Hounds in the quarter.

The fourth quarter was evenly matched with Fort Madison outscoring Burlington 14-12. Cresswell hit back to back 3-pointers, one from the right side and one from the left with about four minutes left in the game and contributed a nifty inlet pass to senior Lorenzo Riles would got fouled on the play, converting the back end of the two freebies.

Cresswell led the Hounds with 15 points on the night. Rashid had 13. Kokjohn, who didn't score from the field in the second half, had six for Fort Madison, as did Jayden Fedler.

Sheymouhr Redd-Donald had four points, Keester and Riles each had three points. Jace Burgher had two points and Romeo Maestro added a point for Fort Madison.

Head Coach Ryan Wilson said he was impressed with the defensive effort of the team and Cresswell's overall performances.

"We worked yesterday on some different things to make us a little more focused and to try and be in the passing lanes a little more, just trying to make things a bit more difficult," he said. "It could have been better at times. We gave up some open looks but when you hold a team to 36 points, you're doing something right."

He said Cresswell did some good things with the ball and away from the ball.

"Kaleb did a great job all around, finding open players and knocking down some shots. And defensively he held a couple guys in check so I was happy with his all around effort."

The Hounds move to 9-4 on the season and have won six of their last seven games. They host cross-town rival Holy Trinity Catholic on Saturday in a boys/girls doubleheader.

FMHS sophomore Jayden Fedler scores inside in the early going of the Hounds' win over Burlington Tuesday. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC

Hounds' senior Sheymouhr Redd-Donald scores on a fast break Tuesday against the Grayhounds. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC