Boys Basketball: Pirates Victorious in Overtime; Win 2 Of 3 Last Week

By Kevin Yoder  
Photo credit: Oliver Thompson

Sometimes, 32 minutes just isn’t enough.  

Saturday night the Hudson boy's basketball team ventured west to Eldora looking to avenge a 30-point defeat at the hands of the South Hardin Tigers from a year ago.  The game was originally on the pre-Christmas schedule, but a snowstorm bumped it to  the unconventional first Saturday in February.  

With the majority of last year’s cast returning for each team, the Pirates jumped out front early. Tade Roberts dominated the interior with eleven first-quarter points, giving Hudson  a 7-point lead at the first break.  

The Pirates would lead by as many as ten before the Tigers clawed their way back to trail by just two at the half.  

The second half was a back-and-forth battle, with neither team leading by more than four points. While the South Hardin defense keyed on Roberts, Blake Delagardelle and Jackson Nesteby began to heat up from the perimeter. Each drained multiple shots from distance, but despite playing with a lead for the majority of the contest, Hudson found themselves trailing by  two in the final minute of regulation.  

A timeout with :17 left put the ball in Anderson Yoder’s hands. A high drag off a Roberts screen allowed Yoder to turn the corner, drive down the lane and lay the ball off the glass to tie the game with :04 left. A desperation heave went begging and the Pirates entered their first  overtime period of the season.  

Defense reigned supreme in the extra session, and following a Delagardelle three, Hudson locked in. Leading by one as time wound down, Roberts slipped a screen and took a baseline inbounds pass from Yoder right at the front of the rim. He laid it in and one solid  defensive possession later gave Hudson a 58-57 victory.  

Roberts paced all scorers with 26 points and complimented that with 18 rebounds.  Delagardelle finished with 15 on five made three-pointers. Yoder took a swing at a triple-double with 8 points, 7 assists and 7 rebounds.  

While an overtime thriller capped it off, the week began with a road trip to Sumner to face the Sumner-Fredericksburg Cougars.  

This one began as many have this year, with Hudson playing stifling defense. The Pirates held the Cougars to only eight points in each of the first two quarters, while getting their offense going at the same time. A 34-16 lead at the break propelled the Pirates to a comfortable 70-49 win.  

Jackson Nesteby had the hot hand for Hudson, draining four of the six threes he attempted en  route to a season high 19 points. Tade Roberts put together another quality performance with 23 points and 8 rebounds, while Anderson Yoder chipped in 13 with 6 assists.  

Friday night’s road trip took the Pirates to Grundy Center to face the undefeated and #4 ranked Spartans. Hudson was a game opponent the entire night but ultimately came up short on the scoreboard 70-56.  

Tade Roberts put up another night of impressive stats. He finished with 27 points on 11 of 12 shooting. On this night it was Bowen Backes’ turn to fill it up, posting his career high of 14 on the strength of four 3-point shots. Anderson Yoder contributed an additional seven points, while dishing out a career high 10 assists.  

Looking ahead, games against Union and Waverly-Shell Rock rounded out the regular season schedule this week. The postseason begins next week, with the goal to pack the Pirate Ship on Monday night for a first-round district matchup with Oelwein. A win in that game sends the  Pirates back to Waterloo next Thursday for a third date with the Columbus Catholic Sailors. 

Make your plans in to support the Hudson Pirates!