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Iowa Central’s run ends in finals

—Photo by Larry Peterson/Creston News Advertiser Iowa Central’s Tray Croft splits Southwestern defenders Khallid Edwards (2) and D’Marqueyon Whittington (11) as teammate Robert Hawkins looks on. Croft scored 28 points and was named co-MVP of the Region XI all-tournament team along with Southwestern’s Alijah Thomas after the Tritons’ 97-79 loss to the Spartans.

CRESTON — It took the defending NJCAA Div. II national champions to sideline the Iowa Central men’s basketball team.

No. 15 Southwestern knocked down 18 three-point baskets and simply had too much overall firepower in defeating the Tritons, 97-79, for the Region XI championship here on Saturday.

Six different Spartans reached double figures in scoring, as Southwestern improved to 26-7 overall and advanced to the national tournament.

Despite 28 more points from the country’s top scorer, sophomore Tray Croft, Iowa Central bowed out with a 21-12 mark. The Tritons had reached the championship contest by rallying past top-seeded and fifth-ranked Kirkwood in the regional semifinals earlier in the week.

Croft finished his career with 1,626 points. The 6-foot-1 guard from Annison, Ala. had an all-time school best 854 points this season, breaking his own record of 772 points from a year ago.

Royshawn Webb added 24 points for the Tritons, who simply couldn’t counter the Spartans’ balance. Alijah Thomas (18 points), Gatdoar Kueth (17), Terence Shelby Jr. (17), Khallid Edwards (14), Ryan Warren (12) and Chad Moran (12) all reached double figures for Southwestern, and all six hit at least two three-pointers each.

The Spartans led by 53-40 at halftime, and held a 10-point advantage until delivering a 17-4 knockout punch midway through the second half.

It was 31-30 Southwestern at the under eight-minute timeout in the first half before the Spartans finally started to find some separation.

Croft and Thomas were co-most valuable players of the tournament. Croft, Webb and Collin Shannon made the all-tourney team for the Tritons, who staged double-digit rallies to oust Ellsworth and the Eagles in the opening rounds.

SOUTHWESTERN 97, IOWA CENTRAL 79

Southwestern — Alijah Thomas 5 6-7 18, Gatdoar Kueth 5 5-5 17, Terence Shelby Jr. 6 0-0 17, Khallid Edwards 6 0-1 14, Ryan Warren 4 1-2 12, Chad Moran 2 6-6 12, D’Marqueyon Whittington 2 1-2 7. Totals: 30 19-23 97.

Iowa Central — Tray Croft 11 3-4 28, Royshawn Webb 11 0-1 24, Thomas Akamarmoi 3 2-2 11, Dallas Bailey 3 0-0 7, Collin Shannon 2 0-0 6, Kemryn Jenkins 1 1-1 3. Totals: 31 6-8 79.

Halftime score: Southwestern led, 53-40. Three-point goals: Southwestern 18 (Shelby Jr. 5, Warren 3, Thomas 2, Kueth 2, Edwards 2, Moran 2, Whittington 2); Iowa Central 11 (Akamarmoi 3, Croft 3, Webb 2, Shannon 2, Bailey 1). Total fouls: Southwestern 14, Iowa Central 19.

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