By: Donovan W. Mann – donovanm@977thebolt.com
Algona, IA – Humboldt High School boys basketball drops a hard fought game in their first road game of the season.
On Tuesday, Dec. 15, the Humboldt Wildcats traveled to face the Algona Bulldogs for their second North Central Conference match up of the season. After falling behind in the first half the Wildcats fells just short of a comeback in the 61-58 loss.
In a low scoring first quarter Humboldt grabbed the first bucket to begin the back and forth period where Algona escaped with the 9-8 lead. The Bulldogs grew a nine point advantage by half time thanks to eight points from guard Noah Nelson in the second quarter, 28-19 going into the locker rooms.
It was a tightly contested third quarter for Humboldt who managed to get forward Sam Fischer and guard Gabe Gidel five points each but Algona still grew the lead to ten thanks to a late surge in the last two minutes of the quarter, 44-34 at the end of three. Humboldt fought hard to win the fourth quarter 24-17 but six point from guard Garrett Goache (four from the free throw line) helped lock the game in for Algona, 61-58.
As a team Humboldt shot 31.7 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from three point range. They committed 19 turnovers. They recorded 41 team rebounds (23 defensive and 19 offensive).
For Humboldt they were led by Fischer who recorded a double-double of 10 points and eleven rebounds. Gidel also recorded a double-double with 10 points and eleven rebounds.
As a team Algona shot 37.7 percent from the field (2-10 from deep). They shot 30 times from the free throw line and made 19 of them. The Bulldogs also had 39 rebounds.
Four Bulldogs finished the night with double-digit scoring led by Goche with 12 (eight from the free throw line). Nelson along with forwards James Wartick and Tyler Manske all had eleven points for Algona.
A final stat report form Humboldt boys basketball game at Algona can be found on Varsity Bound.
The loss to Algona was Humboldt’s first of the season making them 3-1 and 1-1 in the NCC. Next for the Wildcats is a road game at Eagle Grove on Thursday, Dec. 17. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:45 pm following the girls varsity game.