Okoboji won a thrilling Siouxland Conference game over MOC-FV in Milford, 62-61 on Friday night. The first quarter was back and forth, with neither team able to distance themselves, as Okoboji took a 15-13 lead into the second frame. The Dutch took a quick 18-17 lead but Okoboji would respond with an 11-2 run to take a 28-20 lead, and would build that lead to 35-25 at halftime. MOC-FV would not go away, however and chipped away at the lead, trimming it to 41-39 midway through the quarter before Okoboji would take a slim 44-41 lead into the final stanza. The action heated up even more in the fourth quarter, with the Dutch taking their first lead since 4-3 at 45-44 before Okoboji responded with a 6-2 run to take the lead back at 50-47. Baskets by Amanda Hulstein and Madison Pottebaum gave MOC-FV a 56-54 lead, but Ava Packebush answered with a three-point play and then an assist to Zoey Holmes to put Okoboji back on top 61-59. Adyson Jeltema hit a jumper to tie the game at 61-61 but Packebush would win the game for the Pioneers with a free throw with :06 left, and Okoboji got one last defensive stop to pull out the hard-fought victory. Carly Carstens led Okoboji with 21 points and 2 steals; Ava Packebush added 15 points and 4 assists and Lynnae Abrahamson added 8 points to go along with 7 rebounds. Amanda Hulstein led the Dutch with 21 points, Mya Immeker added 13 points and Madison Pottebuam chipped in with 11 points. Okoboji earns their fifth straight victory of the season to improve to 5-6 while MOC-FV falls to 4-5.
Quotes from John Adams
“Wow, what a great game of basketball. Both teams kept answering each other in that last quarter, and we were fortunate to have just enough left in our tank to pull out the win. Ava made some huge plays at the end of the game, including her free throws; Carly was awesome all night on both ends of the court, and we got great contributions from all 10 kids who played. Our bench had tremendous energy all night, and that helped us keep going, especially when MOC-FV took a couple of late leads. The crowd was also fantastic tonight, it was a great atmosphere for high school basketball. We’re so proud of this group and how they have stuck together after an 0-6 start to get to this point. They are buying into things on the defensive end of the court and playing with confidence and sharing the ball so well on offense. We’re definitely looking forward to this second half of the season.”
