Boys Basketball: Pirates Smother J-Hawks 45-25

By Kevin Yoder  

There are two ways to win a basketball game; play dazzling offense and outscore your opponent, or  lockdown defense and suffocate your opponent. While the former remains a work in progress, the Hudson  boys basketball team is excelling at the latter. 

After two games were postponed last week because of weather, the Pirates got back on the floor Friday  night at Jesup. Looking to build on a win in their previous game, Hudson got contributions from a variety  of players early. 

With leading scorer Tade Roberts in early foul trouble, other players stepped up. Bowen Backes got in the  scoring column by nailing his first two three-point attempts of the season. Jackson Nesteby and Blake  Delagardelle finished strong drives to the basket, and Grady Moseley hit a pair of shots in the paint filling  in admirably for Roberts.    

But the defense was the story of the night. Hudson’s unique zone has stymied opponents early this season,  and Jesup was no different. The Pirates only surrendered 15 points in the first half, and the second half  they were even stingier, as the J-Hawks only managed an additional 10. 

Roberts returned in the second half to dominate the Jesup frontline, finishing with a game high 17 points  and 10 rebounds. Nesteby also hit double figures with a dozen, while Backes finished with a career high  8. Delagardelle and Moseley each chipped in four to round out the Pirate scoring. 

Defensively the numbers are even more impressive. Jesup shot a meager 6 for 47 from the floor (12.8%)  with the bulk of those misses coming from deep, as they managed only 1 of 24 from three-point range  (4.2%). 

Following the 45-25 victory the Pirates are now #1 in Class 2A allowing only 35.3 points per game. Head  coach Sean Leonard knows for the Pirates to continue to make that their calling card, it will continue to  take work. 

“The guys are really buying into the idea that our effort is our identity and it’s showing up on the  defensive end,” stated Leonard. “We have been very disruptive and have not allowed teams to do what  they want.” 

“It was great to grab a conference road win,” he continued. “With each game we’ve gained more  confidence.” 

That number will certainly be challenged this week. The Pirates hosted Aplington-Parkersburg on  Tuesday, and follow that up with a road game in Waterloo at Columbus Catholic on Friday. 

The Pirates will wrap up their pre-holiday schedule with a home game at the Pirate Ship on Monday night  against the Oelwein Huskies. Come on out and seize your last opportunity to support both boys and girls  teams before Christmas!