Raiders back on track

By Editor | December 24, 2024 |

The Mount Ayr boy’s basketball team picked up three wins last week to improve to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the POI heading to Christmas break.
The wins come after the Raiders only loss this season, a 47-45 setback to Bedford, on December 12.
Mount Ayr will be off for Christmas break until their first game back from break on Friday, January 3 at home against East Union.
Mount Ayr got a big win to start the week against Wayne at home 60-37. The win snapped a three-game win streak by Wayne. The game was close in the first half as the Falcons led 14-13 after the first quarter and with the Raiders fighting back to take a one-point, 24-23 lead at halftime. The Raiders put some distance between themselves and the Falcons in the third quarter using a 14-7 run to take a 38-30 lead after three quarters. The Raiders took control of the game in the final quarter with a 22-7 run to secure the 23-point win.
Mount Ayr had three players reach double figures with Jackson Ruggles scoring 16, Tyler Martin 13, and Tate Dugan 10 points.
Wayne was led by Jaedyn Schoolcraft with 19 points including five made three pointers. Gage Swan added 6 points and Hunter Taylor 4 points and 5 rebounds. The two teams will play again on January 24.
The Raiders would take a big step in distancing themselves in the conference race beating SW Valley at home last Thursday 73-65. The point total is the highest scored so far this season for the Raiders surpassing their 62-point outing at Nodaway Valley earlier this month.
The Timberwolves led 16-11 after the first quarter, but the Raiders made up the seven-point difference in the second quarter to take a 3-point, 33-30 lead at halftime. The Raiders extended their lead to 10 points going to the final quarter 55-45. The Timberwolves tried to rally in the fourth quarter, but the Raiders matched the Timberwolves points to keep them at bay.
Mount Ayr had 16 points from Jackson Ruggles, 13 from Tyler Martin and 10 from Tate Dugan to lead the way. The Raiders held a 30 to 16 rebound advantage in the game. Jaize Frost and Dugan led the Raiders with 7 rebounds each. Ruggles had 5 assists and Martin had 3 while Martin, Dugan and Ruggles each had three steals.
The Raiders traveled to Grant City, Missouri to play Worth County on Friday, December 20. The result was a 59-21 win. The Raiders led 19-11 after the first quarter and used a 17-3 second quarter run to take control of the game at halftime with a 36-14 lead. A 13-2 run in the third quarter game extended the Raiders lead to 49-16 after three quarters. The two teams have played since 2020 with Mount Ayr holding a 6-0 advantage.
Three players reached double figures led by Tyler Martin with 13 points, 4 steals, 2 assists, and 2 rebounds. Jackson Ruggles scored 10 points and had 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Sophomores Adler Reed and Hayes Stogdill scored 10 and 9 points off the bench. Each had 3 rebounds and 3 steals in the game. Trevin Victor added 8 points and 7 steals. The Raiders shot 45-percent in the game and made five three pointers.
Mount Ayr 60, Wayne 37
Tuesday, December 17
At Mount Ayr

1 2 3 4 Final
W 14 9 7 7 37
MA 13 11 14 22 60
WAYNE (37): Ruger Berndt 1-7 0-0 2, Hunter Taylor 2-5 0-0 4, Jaedyn Schoolcraft 6-9 2-3 19, Brader Werts 0-2 2-2 2, Carter Sinclair 1-1 0-0 2, Maddux Moore 1-2 0-0 2, Gage Swan 3-8 0-2 6. Totals: 14-34 4-7 37.
MOUNT AYR (60): Jackson Ruggles 6-15 2-3 16, Trevin Victor 3-7 2-3 8, Jaize Frost 3-7 1-2 7, Tyler Martin 5-8 1-2 13, Tate Dugan 4-6 2-4 10, Hayes Stogdill 0-3 0-0 0, Adler Reed 2-3 0-0 4, Louden Main 1-1 0-0 2, Rowan Sackett 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 24-50 8-14 60.
3-Pt. FG: W 5-15 (Schoolcraft 5-8, Berndt 0-5, Swan 0-1, Taylor 0-1), MA 4-16 (Ruggles 2-6, Martin 2-4, Victor 0-4, Stogdill 0-2). Rebounds: W 16 (Taylor 5, Werts 3, Swan 2, Sinclair 1, Schoolcraft 1, Berndt 1), MA 30 (Frost 7, Dugan 7, Ruggles 5, Main 4). Assists: W 11 (Werts 4, Berndt 2, Taylor 2, Moore 2, Schoolcraft 1), MA 10 (Ruggles 5, Martin 3). Steals: W 10 (Taylor 3, Berndt 2, Schoolcraft 2, Werts 1, Moore 1, Swan 1), MA 18 (Reed 3, dugan 3, Martin 3, Ruggles 3, Victor 2, Frost 2, Stogdill 2). Blocked Shots: W 1 (Berndt 1), MA 8 (Main 3, Frost 2, Ruggles 2, Dugan 1). Turnovers: W 26. MA 9. Total Fouls: 10. MA 11. Fouled Out: none.

Mount Ayr 73, SW Valley 65
Thursday, December 19
At Mount Ayr

1 2 3 4 Final
SWV 16 14 15 20 65
MA 11 21 22 19 73

SWV (65): Alex Morgan 6-11 4-4 17, Colton Pegg 4-12 1-2 12, Cael Hogan 5-16 1-6 13, Wyatt Mendenhall 6-11 1-2 14, Devin Greenwalt 0-4 0-4 0, Walker Bissell 0-1 1-2 1, Theron Mullen 4-6 0-0 8. Totals: 25-61 8-18 65.
MOUNT AYR (73): Jackson Ruggles 9-13 12-14 38, Trevin Victor 0-0 0-0 0, Jaize Frost 0-1 1-2 1, Tyler Martin 6-8 2-5 17, Tate Dugan 3-5 2-2 8, Hayes Stogdill 1-2 0-0 2, Adler Reed 1-3 1-2 3, Louden Main 1-3 2-4 4. Totals: 21-35 20-29 73.
3-Pt. FG: SWV 7-16 (Pegg 3-4, Hogan 2-7, Mendenhall 1-2, Morgan 1-2, Mullen 0-1), MA 11-15 (Ruggles 8-11, Martin 3-4). Rebounds SWV 19 (Morgan 10), MA 33 (Ruggles 7, Dugan 7, Main 5, Martin 4, Victor 3, Frost 2, Reed 2). Assists: SWV 12 (Hogan 4), MA 18 (Martin 5, Victor 5, Dugan 4, Ruggles 2, Frost 1, Reed 1), Steals: SWV 12 (Morgan 6), MA 9 (Dugan 3, Martin 3, Victor 2, Ruggles 1). Blocked Shots: SWV 5 (Morgan 3), MA 9 (Dugan 3, Martin 3, Frost 2, Ruggles 1). Turnovers: SWV 10, MA 9. Total Fouls – MA 19. Fouled Out: none.