Raiders finish with 14-2 POI record,18 wins

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Riding home from their 18th win of the season, a 77-34 dismantling of East Union in Afton, the Mount Ayr Raider boy’s basketball team frantically tried to find a score of SE Warren and Lenox.
Once known that the Tigers had upset the Warhawks, hope spread on the bus that the Raiders may have just earned a share of the POI title. However, it was not to be as the Pride Of Iowa Conference rules say otherwise.
Despite finishing with an identical 14-2 record with SE Warren, the Warhawks held the tiebreaker over the Raiders with two wins this season, giving them the outright POI title this year.
Despite placing second, the Raiders have had an outstanding year and collected win No. 18 on the year, four more than the 14 they had last year. The 18 wins captured is the seventh time in the last eight seasons that the Raiders have had at least 18 wins in a year, the most among any POI team. The Raiders are 149-30 in those eight years averaging 18.6 wins
“We took care of what we needed to,” said Mount Ayr coach Bret Ruggles. “Regardless of first or second place, we did a good job of not letting the SE Warren loss become more losses. I am excited that we could have crumbled after the SEW loss and gone on a losing streak. I am proud of our kids for fighting to remain in the position they were in was impressive. Sometimes it’s all or none on emotions and they were great,” said Ruggles.
The Raiders beat two POI foes last week, East Union 77-34 last Friday, but started the week with a 63-35 win at a tough place to play, Central Decatur and a game with Interstate-35. The Raiders found out Monday where they will play in the first round of the Class 1A district tournament. Mount Ayr will host rival Lenox on Monday, February 17 with the winner playing the winner of East Mills and Griswold on Thursday, February 20. If the Raiders are in that game, they will play at home. The District 13 Final is on Tuesday, February 25. Teams in the upper bracket are top-seed Coon Rapids-Bayard, Nodaway Valley, Diagonal, Murray, and Stanton.
The three-game week began with a road trip to Interstate-35 on February 3. The result of playing the Roadrunners was a 78-47 non-conference win. The points scored were the most since an 81-32 win at home against East Union back on January 3.
The Raiders led 15-6 after the first quarter and used a 25-13 second-quarter run to take a 40-19 halftime lead. Mount Ayr extended their lead by six points in the third quarter to take a 60-33 lead to the final quarter.
Senior Tyler Martin poured in a career-high 32 points and couldn’t miss from the floor, making 13-for-14 shots, including catching fire from the perimeter and making 6 of 7 three-point attempts. Three others reached double figures with Adler Reed scoring 13 points and grabbing 8 rebounds off the bench, Jackson Ruggles collecting 12 points and 7 rebounds, and Tate Dugan chipping in 10 points. Will Goering and Porter Connoy led the Roadrunners with 12 and 11 points.
The Raiders beat Central Decatur on Tuesday, February 4, 63-35 and used a 15-4 second quarter run to lead 32-16 at halftime. The Raiders outscored the Cardinals 31-19 in the second half to secure the win. The loss was the third straight for the Cardinals while the Raiders won their second straight.
For the second straight game, the Raiders had four double-digit scorers. Tate Duagn led with 16 points and 7 rebounds. Tyler Martin and Jackson Ruggles each had 14 points. Ruggles added 9 rebounds. Jaize Frost also had 13 points and 8 rebounds. Asher Norman and Blake Boyd had 12 and 10 points for the Cardinals.
The week end in Afton with a 77-34 win over the Eagles. The Raiders led 23-3 after the first quarter and didn’t look back. Mount Ayr had 48 of their 77 points in the first half. The Raiders were led by Jackson Ruggles and Tate Dugan with 14 points each while Jaxson Greene added 12 points. Jase Pettit and Pheolan Kelley led East Union with 14 and 10 points.
Ruggles said that this week was one that he thinks will help in the postseason.
“This was a good week. It wasn’t just one guy. Jackson hit 40 points earlier this season, Tyler and Tate had big games this week, and we are getting some really good balanced scoring. I think that will be a big asset in the postseason,” he said.

Mount Ayr 77,
East Union 34
Friday, February 7
At Afton

1 2 3 4 Final
MA 23 25 11 18 77
EU 3 10 6 15 34

MOUNT AYR (77): Jackson Ruggles 5-7 0-0 14, Trevin Victor 1-2 0-0 2, Tyler Martin 5-8 0-0 11, Tate Dugan 6-9 2-2 14, Louden Main 1-3 0-0 2, Hayes Stogdill 3-4 0-0 8, Adler Reed 2-4 0-0 4, Jaxson Greene 4-5 0-0 12, Rowan Sackett 1-1 1-2 3, Drew Graham 2-4 0-0 4, Avery Wolfe 1-2 0-0 3. Totals: 31-49 3-4 77.
3-Pt. FG: 12-21 (Ruggles 4-5, Greene 4-5, Stogdill 2-3, Wolfe 1-2, Martin 1-3, Victor 0-1, Dugan 0-1, Reed 0-1). Rebounds: 27 (Ruggles 5, Martin 5, Reed 4, Graham 3, Dugan 3, Main 2, Stogdill 2, Sackett 2, Victor 1). Assists: 23 (Martin 5, Stogdill 5, Ruggles 4, Victor 3, Reed 3, Dugan 1, Sackett 1, Graham 1). Steals: 10 (Ruggles 3, Main 3, Martin 2, Graham 1, Dugan 1). Blocked Shots: 3 (Ruggles 1, Martin 1, Reed 1). Turnovers: 5. Total Fouls: 8. Fouled Out: none.

Mount Ayr 63,
Central Decatur 35
Tuesday, February 4
At Leon

1 2 3 4 Final
MA 17 15 17 14 63
CD 12 4 14 5 35

MOUNT AYR (63): Jackson Ruggles 6-11 0-0 14, Trevin Victor 1-5 0-0 3, Jaize Frost 4-11 3-6 13, Tyler Martin 6-11 0-0 14, Tate Dugan 6-11 4-6 16, Hayes Stogdill 0-1 0-2 0, Adler Reed 0-2 0-0 0, Jaxson Greene 1-2 0-0 3, Louden Main 0-0 0-0 0, Rowan Sackett 0-0 0-0 0, Drew Graham 0-0 0-0 0, Avery Wolfe 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 24-54 7-14 63.
CENTRAL DECATUR (35): Nash Dykes 2-14 0-0 6, Gavin Smith 0-7 3-4 3, Asher Norman 5-13 1-2 12, Paxon Applegate 1-4 2-3 4, Blake Boyd 3-13 2-2 10, Brody Hamilton 0-1 0-0 0, Macson Lindsey 0-1 0-0 0, Coby Martin 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 11-53 8-11 35.
3-Pt. FG: MA 8-20 (Martin 2-4, Frost 2-4, Ruggles 2-4, Victor 1-4, Greene 1-2, Reed 0-1, Stogdill 0-1), CD 5-32 (Boyd 2-12, Dykes 2-9, Norman 1-7, Smith 0-2, Hamilton 0-1, Lindsey 0-1). Rebounds: MA 35 (Ruggles 9, Frost 8, Dugan 7, Main 3, Martin 3, Reed 2, Victor 1, Stogdill 1, Graham 1), CD 24 (Applegate 7, Smith 6, Boyd 4, Dykes 3, Norman 3, Lindsey 1). Assists: MA 15 (Stogdill 4, Frost 3, Victor 3, Ruggles 2, Reed 2, Martin 1), CD 7 (Boyd 2, Smith 2, Dykes 1, Norman 1, Hamilton 1). Steals: MA 10 (Graham 3, Ruggles 2, Frost 2, Victor 1, Martin 1, Stogdill 1), CD 9 (Dykes 5, Norman 1, Applegate 1, Blyd 1, Hamilton 1). Blocked Shots: MA 3 (Frost 2, Main 1), CD 1 (Applegate 1). Turnovers: MA 9, CD 11. Total Fouls: MA 13, CD 12. Fouled Out: MA none. CD Applegate.

Mount Ayr 78,
Interstate-35 47
Monday, February 3
At Truro

1 2 3 4 Final
MA 15 25 20 18 78
I35 6 13 14 14 47

MOUNT AYR (78): Jackson Ruggles 5-11 1-2 12, Trevin Victor 1-5 0-0- 3, Jaize Frost 0-4 0-0 0, Tyler Martin 13-14 0-1 32, Tate Dugan 5-5 0-0 10, Hayes Stogdill 0-1 0-0 0, Adler Reed 3-5 7-8 13, Jaxson Greene 1-2 0-0 3, Louden Main 2-4 0-0 5, Drew Graham 0-1 0-0 0, Avery Wolfe 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 30-53 8-11 78.
INTERSTATE-35 (47): Porter Fannoy 5-11 1-2 11, Jack Glenn 2-7 0-0 6, Brendan Goering 3-10 0-0 6, Will Goering 4-11 2-3 12, Ben McCuddin 0-5 0-0 0, Lucas Baudlr 0-0 0-0 0, Jacob Capps 0-0 0-0 0, Hutch Howard 0-2 3-4 3, Andrew Howard 0-2 0-0 0, Zach Masters 1-1 0-0 2, Kale Murphy 1-1 0-0 2, Jordan Rankin 2-4 0-0 5, Keegan Strange 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-54 6-9 47.
3-Pt. FG: MA 10-19 (Martin 6-7, Ruggles 1-4, Victor 1-4, Greene 1-2, Main 1-1, Frost 0-1), I35 5-21 (Glenn 2-7, W. Goering 2-7, Rankin 1-2, McCuddin 0-2, H. Howard 0-2, A. Howard 0-1). Rebounds: MA 32 (Reed 8, Ruggles 7, Frost 5, Martin 5, Dugan 3, Stogdill 2, Main 1, Wolfe 1), I35 22 (B. Goering 6, Cannot 6). Assists: MA (12 (Victor 4, Ruggles 3, Martin 2, Dugan 1, Stogdill 1, Reed 1), I35 9 (McCuddin 3). Steals: MA 13 (Reed 3, Frost 2, Martin 2, Dugan 2, Main 2, Ruggles 1, Sackett 1), I35 12 (W. Goering 4). Blocked Shots: MA 4 (Frost 4), I35 (none). Turnovers: MA 6. I35 15. Total Fouls: MA 14. I35 16. Fouled Out: MA none. I35 Rankin.