Hudson 7th and 8th Grade Boys Basketball Teams Compete in Busy Week

By Justin Michael  
Photo credit: Darla Michael

The Hudson 8th Grade (A) and 7th Grade (B) boys basketball teams opened a busy week  hosting Wapsie Valley before traveling to AGWSR and closing at home against North Tama.  

vs. Wapsie Valley  

Hudson hosted the Warriors on Monday, Feb. 9, in the Hudson Middle School Competition Gym.  The 8th grade team, through good team defense, sharing of the basketball and solid offensive  shooting, jumped out to an early lead. The Pirates led 10-5 after one quarter and 25-10 at halftime.  Keeping their pedal to the floor in the second half, Hudson extended the lead to 46-18 after three and  cruised to a 60-19 victory, with all 13 Pirates seeing action.  

Caden Dlouhy led offensively with 15 points (6-13 FG). Gavin Lidtke and Blake Van Hove each  had 8, Jace Rhoades 7, Josh Culham 5, and Jackson Steele, Greyson Griffin and Myles Jensen 4  apiece. Logan Reger and Beckett Hansen added 2 each, and Davis Germain chipped in 1. Defensively,  the Pirates combined for 19 steals and 32 rebounds, led by Van Hove and Lidtke with 7 boards each.  

In the 7th grade game, Hudson jumped out to an 8-0 start before Wapsie Valley answered with a  run of its own. The contest turned into a game of short runs, with the score tied at 21 after three  quarters. The Pirates briefly regained the lead early in the fourth, but a late three-point play by the  Warriors proved decisive in a 35-29 Hudson loss.  

The 8th Grade (A) moved to 4-4, while the 7th Grade (B) fell to 5-2.  

at AGWSR  

The Pirates traveled west to Wellsburg to take on the Cougars.  

In Game 1, the 8th grade relied again on solid team defense. Jackson Steele shadowed  AGWSR’s main scorer, while Beckett Hansen pressured ball handlers and hustled in help defense.  Hudson’s defensive effort fueled a 10-0 start and a 26-7 halftime lead. The Pirates led 35-12 after three  and finished with a 45-18 win.  

Jace Rhoades led with 15 points (7-16 FG), Jackson Steele added 11, Caden Dlouhy 9, Beckett  Hansen 8 and Blake Van Hove 2. The Pirates combined for 38 rebounds. Dlouhy and Rhoades each  grabbed 7 boards, Steele and Hansen had 6 each, and Van Hove added 5 rebounds and 7 steals.  

In the 7th grade contest, Hudson built a 16-8 lead after one quarter and settled in during the  second to take a 29-10 halftime advantage. Holding the Cougars scoreless in the third quarter, the  Pirates stretched the lead to 43-10 and closed out a 59-12 win.  

Lukah Bergmeier led with 21 points (10-19 FG, 1-1 FT). Jace Kuker had 11, Knox Griffin 8, and  Cael Backes, Mason Strayer and Cooper Warnell 4 each. The team totaled 17 steals and 24 rebounds,  including 6 boards from Strayer.  

The 8th Grade (A) improved to 5-4, while the 7th Grade (A) moved to 7-1.  

vs. North Tama  

Hudson closed out the second week of February at home against the Redhawks.  The 8th grade (A) controlled the game from start to finish in a 57-24 victory. Caden Dlouhy led  with 18 points, Greyson Griffin added 12, and Gavin Lidtke recorded a double-double with 10 points, 13  rebounds and 5 steals. Josh Culham scored 5, Myles Jensen and Gabe Beach each had 3, and Dylan  Rhymer added 2. The Pirates combined for 39 rebounds and 15 steals.  

In the 7th grade matchup, Hudson held a 7-6 lead after one quarter before North Tama built a  13-8 halftime advantage. The Redhawks pulled away in the second half for a 33-20 win. Chase  Klingaman led with 9 points, Kevin Hayes added 8 points and 7 rebounds, Edward Richard scored 2 and  Elijah Gilbert finished with 1.  

The 8th Grade (A) now stands at 6-4, while the 7th Grade (B) is 5-3. The 7th grade returns to  action Monday at home against Peet Junior High, with both teams hosting Jesup and Janesville later in  the week.