Warhawks pound Northwood-Kensett

SHEFFIELD – Perhaps the scariest part about Class 1A No. 5 West Fork boys’ basketball team’s 92-19 beat-down of Northwood-Kensett last week was the fact its starting and second-string post players were out with injury.

The Warhawks, which improved to 13-1 overall, 10-0 in the Top of Iowa East Conference, played all 12 on its roster who were in uniform and all but one scored due to an injury; and even still all contributed in what turned out to be only a point shy of the school record for points scored in a game.

The record was set last season in West Fork’s 93-65 victory against BCLUW.

“It was nice to see everyone contributed and everyone played really well,” West Fork coach Frank Schnoes said. “Sometimes when games get out of hand, you get a little sloppy and careless. All of our kids were really focused for four quarters. It was nice to see our young guys step up and have quality minutes.”

Six-foot-five posts Brayden Vold (ankle) and Joe Ingham were on the sideline for this one when the outcome was well in hand by halftime. Junior Colin Martinek was making his second start in Vold’s place.

“All post players,” Schnoes said of his two injured team members. “We’re getting kind of thin there, but Jason Meier played…the more he plays, the more relaxed he gets. He was very aggressive tonight, which is what we like to see out of him. And Edison Caspers did a nice job, too.”

Ian Latham led five Warhawks in double-figure scoring with 15 points, including three who came off the bench to do so – 14 for Ren Heimer and Cail Weaver – the latter of which led the team in steals with seven, which turned into points on the other end and Noah Maske with 11.

Kayden Ames scored 12 points in limited second-half action.

It was the second of four games in the week’s span for West Fork, which had already topped Rockford, was set to faced Mason City Newman on the road before hosting the annual Coaches vs. Cancer game against the Bulldogs on Saturday, Jan. 25.

West Fork 92, Northwood-Kensett 19

Northwood-Kensett (2-10, 1-9)– Ross DeArmoun 2-6 0-0 5, Caden Roberts 1-2 0-0 3, Kael Julseth 1-4 0-0 2, Carter Severson 1-1 0-0 2, Cade Hengesteg 2-8 0-0 4, Jason Hanson 1-5 0-2 2, Nolan Senne 0-2 1-2 1, Logan Mayberry 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 8-28 1-4 19.

West Fork (13-1, 10-0)– Ian Latham 6-6 0-0 15, Brett Weaver 3-7 2-2 8, Kayden Ames 5-8 0-0 12, Noah Maske 5-8 0-0 11, Colin Martinek 1-2 0-0 2, Jakob Washington 1-2 0-0 3, Nate Hubka 1-2 0-0 3, Ren Heimer 5-9 2-2 3, Edison Caspers 1-1 0-0 2, Cail Weaver 7-10 0-0 14, Jason Meier 4-7 0-0 8, Tyler Nuehring 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 39-62 5-6 92.

N-K               8     5     3     3      -   19

W. Fork      31   22   25   14      -   92

Three-point goals – N-K 2-9 (Roberts 1-1, DeArmoun 1-2, Julseth 0-1, Hengesteg 0-5); WF 9-21 (Latham 3-3, Ames 2-4, Heimer 2-5, Hubka 1-1, Maske 1-3, C. Weaver 0-2, B. Weaver 0-3). Rebounds– N-K 11, 0 off., 11 def. (Roberts 2, Julseth 2, Severson 2, Hengesteg 2, Senne 2, Hanson); WF 23, 10 off., 13 def. (Caspers 4, Latham 3, Heimer 3, Meier 3, Maske 2, Washington 2, B. Weaver, Ames, Martinek, Hubka, C. Weaver, Nuehring). Assists– N-K 6 (DeArmoun 2, Julseth 2, Severson 2); WF 25 (Latham 5, Heimer 4, C. Weaver 4, B. Weaver 3, Maske 3, Washington 3, Ames 2, Nuehring). Steals– N-K 2 (Julseth, Severson); WF 22 (C. Weaver 7, B. Weaver 3, Washington 3, Latham 2, Ames 2, Maske 2, Heimer, Caspers, Meier). Blocks– N-K, None; WF 3 (Martinek, Heimer, Caspers). Total fouls– N-K 3, WF 8. Fouled out – None.