Crusaders to play for district title Tuesday

PACKWOOD – The Holy Trinity boys secured a trip to their third straight district championship with a strong defensive effort Thursday night at Pekin.
The Crusaders held Pekin to just 16 points in the second half that led to a 46-38 win over Pekin to advance to Tuesday’s Class 1A, District 9 championship against No. 4 Burlington Notre Dame at Notre Dame.
“Our defense was really good,” said Head Coach John Hellige. “Our energy was off the charts. We really wanted to get this.”
Hellige said Pekin is loaded with some of the best athletes in the state and the game reflected that. The Panthers had state teams in baseball and football and the game showed their physicality in the second half.
“I believe they qualified for state in baseball and football and it’s that core group of kids. We were lucky to get out of there. They just have a really great group of athletes and the coach over there is fantastic. He’s their Jonny Swanson,” Hellige said referencing Central Lee’s Head Coach.

Freshman Jack Ragar led the Crusaders with 17 points, 12 in the first half. Hellige said it’s a blessing to have an underclassman who can step in when defenses are keying on Rung, who averages around 20 a game. He also said senior Nathan Box was big down the stretch with six points in the fourth quarter..
“Box went a little nutty there in the fourth quarter. They were keying on Jack and Corbin (Van Niewaal) and Layne, so Box was able to slip in and get some buckets around the basket,” Hellige said.
Rung got to the free-throw line six times in the second half to put him in double figures again with 12 points. Box finished with seven on the night. Van Niewaal had six and Graeme Meredith finished with four all in the second half.
Cole Millikin led the Panthers tying Ragar for game high in points at 17. Millikin is the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Player of the Year which says more about the Crusaders defense. He was held to just four in the second half.
“We put Jack on him, and he worked his tail off to limit his touches. But everyone else did a great job of helping out when needed.
Hellige said the Crusaders stuck to the game plan and were able to mix things up on offense, but it was the defense effort in the second half that put the Crusaders up for good after settling in at a 22-22 tie at the break.