Hounds suffer fourth straight setback

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Davis returns to score 21 as Grayhounds sweep Burlington

BY JOHN BOHNENKAMP
PCC SPORTS

FORT MADISON - Ryan Wilson had a plan for the Fort Madison High School boys basketball team to get out of its halftime deficit in Friday’s game against Burlington.
Turning the ball over and missing free throws wasn’t part of that plan.
The 76-62 loss to the Grayhounds was the fourth consecutive defeat for the No. 7 (Class 3A) Bloodhounds, who left too many points on their home court on Senior Night.
The Bloodhounds were 14-of-28 in free throws and committed 20 turnovers. That, their coach said, was too much.
“What else can you say?” Wilson said. “I told them, you go 14-of-28 in free throws and have 20 turnovers, there’s nothing I can do to help them.”

WILSON


The Bloodhounds (15-4 overall, 7-3 Southeast Conference) fell behind 22-12 after the first quarter and were down by as much as 19 points in the second quarter before trailing 40-23 at halftime.
Wilson’s plan was much like the week before at Washington when the Bloodhounds trailed by 13 at halftime — cut the lead in half by the end of the third quarter, and create an opportunity to win.
Fort Madison missed two shots in the third quarter, and still trailed by 17 at the end.
“When we only miss two shots in the quarter, and we get to the fourth and we’re still down 17, something’s the issue,” Wilson said.
The Grayhounds (13-7, 8-2), who swept the season series from Fort Madison, swept through the Bloodhounds’ defense all night, constantly slashing to the basket against a zone defense that had too many openings.
Amarion Davis led Burlington with 26 points. Jack Carlson had 15 points. Nate Spear has 11. Merquiche Lewis Jr., had 10.

DAVIS


Dayton Davis, coming back from a sprained ankle he suffered late in the 62-59 loss at Washington, led Fort Madison with 21 points. Miles Dear had 14 points, and Reiburn Turnbull had 12.
The Bloodhounds close the regular season with a Saturday home game against Muscatine and a road game Tuesday at Ottumwa before opening substate play on February 21 against Oskaloosa.
“Just stay the course, we’re OK,” Wilson said when asked what the message was for his team. “We’re playing tough competition. We have not had a slouch on our schedule since mid-January. Washington, to Burlington, to 18-8 West Central (which beat Fort Madison 69-54 last Saturday), to BHS, to Muscatine. We don’t have any slouches. There’s nothing to hang your head about. We’re playing good competition.
“We need to take these (losses) and learn from them, so when February 21 comes and Oskaloosa comes to our gym, we’re better prepared. “

basketball, bloodhounds, Burlington, Dayton Davis, fort madison, Grayhounds, Pen City Current, Ryan Wilson, Senior Night, sports, varsity

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