END OF THE ROAD
Centennial fends off Dodger boys
ANKENY — It wasn’t the way Tom Daniel wanted to see his five seniors end their careers here on Monday, but the 2018-19 campaign was still a step in the right direction after a disappointing start to the season for the Fort Dodge boys basketball team.
The Dodgers (8-14 overall) lost to Ankeny Centennial (9-12) by a 56-45 final in a Class 4A, substate 8 quarterfinal contest inside the Jaguar gym.
Fort Dodge started the season 1-9, but put together a solid run toward the end of the year, winning 7 of 10 games before suffering losses to Des Moines North and Centennial at the end.
“It’s been an interesting season, starting 1-9,” Daniel said. “Things could have gone south, but we kept pushing forward. (Seniors) Jordan (Jackson) and Jace (Peterson) did a great job leading these guys, who are a tight-knit group.
“Compared to where we were, getting up to eight wins … it was nice to see them keep working and not give up on each other.”
On Monday, the season ended for Jackson, Peterson, Rodney Tilawen, Grant Barber and Malihk Lockman, who will all graduate this spring
Peterson had a double-digit effort, scoring 10 points in the contest, despite suffering severe abdominal pain in the second half. As a result, the team had to make a pit stop on the way home.
“Jace gutted out a tough performance, playing through the pain,” Daniel said. “We had to drop Jace off at the hospital (with a possible hernia) in Ames.”
On the court, Centennial did enough down the stretch to prevail. With a little more than three minutes remaining, the Dodgers had trimmed the deficit to 39-36. The Jaguars hit a three-point basket, though, and sealed the deal from there.
“We couldn’t put enough pressure on them,” Daniel said. “I thought we competed hard and to the end. We just couldn’t come up with timely baskets.
“They are a big team, and their zone bothered us.”
Centennial hit four three-pointers in the game and went 10-for-15 from the free throw line, while pulling down 32 rebounds.
“We gave up too many points in our zone,” Daniel said. “We wanted to force them outside, but they were able to penetrate and we just couldn’t get over the hump.
“They made free throws at the end and closed the door.”
Jackson led the Dodgers with 18 points. The four-year regular finished his career 14th on Fort Dodge’s all-time scoring charts, with 681 points in 82 games.
Jackson averaged 15.2 points this season, while pulling down 123 rebounds.
Junior Tysen Kershaw will return as the Dodgers leading scorer after a 243 point season, as he averaged 11 points per game. Current sophomore Dayson Clayton is also slated to return as a starter.
“This group did a good job. The fact that we are not happy with the way it ended is a positive. It’s a crisis when nobody cares,” Daniel said. “To have five seniors in any program these days is a pretty important milestone. Hopefully they passed on enough to the underclassmen.
“They’re certainly going to be missed. You can’t replace Jordan and Jace; Rodney put forth a lot of effort, and Grant’s height was key. Malihk could shoot the ball.
“It’s going to take time to let this melt away, and then we have to build up next year’s group. These guys have given us four quality years, and they are the type of group that will be successful in life.”
ANKENY CENTENNIAL 56, FORT DODGE 45
Ankeny Centennial — Cody McCullough 13, Lathan Brandt 11, Garret Severseike 10, Micah Johnson 9, Caleb VanMeter 5, Preston Kelling 4, Brady Petersen 4.
Fort Dodge — Rodney Tilawen 0, Jace Peterson 10, Tysen Kershaw 7, Asle Thorson 0, Grant Barber 2, Malihk Lockman 2, Dayson Clayton 8, Jordan Jackson 18.
Quarter scores: Centennial led 16-8, 24-15, 39-27.