MS Boys BBall: Pirates Earn Strong Week at Home Against Peet, Jesup and Janesville

 By Justin Michael 
Photo Credit: Darla Michael

The Hudson Middle School boys basketball teams hosted Peet Jr. High, Jesup and  Janesville in a busy week of home action inside the Hudson Middle School Competition Gym. 

vs. Peet Jr. High 

The 7th Grade (B) Pirates hosted the Peet Jr. High Tigers for two games on Monday, Feb.  16. 

In Game 1, Hudson jumped out early, leading 22-6 at halftime. The Pirates came out in  the third quarter with stingy defense and quality ball movement, extending the lead to 36-8. Peet  showed urgency in the fourth, but Hudson controlled the game and secured a 41-22 win. 

Cameron Burbach led the Pirates with 12 points. Rocco Thompson and Kevin Hayes each  added 10, Chase Klingaman, Braden Weide, Kinnick Annis and Edward Richard scored 2 apiece,  and Brock Gunnarson chipped in 1. 

In the second game, Hudson led 16-8 at the half in a tighter first half. The Pirates turned  up the defensive pressure in the third quarter, holding the Tigers to just two points and building a  30-10 advantage. Hudson finished strong for a 36-16 victory. 

The Pirates improved to 7-2 overall on the season. Sullivan Means and Elijah Gilbert  contributed key baskets in Game 2, each adding 4 points in a balanced scoring effort. 

vs. Jesup 

Hudson hosted the Jesup J-Hawks on Tuesday. 

In the 8th grade (A) matchup, the Pirates led 9-7 after the first quarter. Jesup regained the  lead in the second and carried an 18-14 advantage into halftime. Hot shooting from behind the  arc helped the J-Hawks extend their lead to 31-26 after three. 

Hudson mounted a fourth-quarter comeback, tying the game 38-38 with 2:51 remaining.  Jesup capitalized at the free-throw line late to seal a 49-38 win. 

Jackson Steele led Hudson with 12 points, going 4-6 from behind the arc. Jace Rhoades  added 10, Caden Dlouhy 7, Blake Van Hove 5, Greyson Griffin 3 and Gavin Lidtke 2.  Defensively, the Pirates recorded 8 steals and 22 rebounds. 

In the extra period, the 8th grade (B) squad handled business, finishing with a 12-7  advantage. Davis Germain led with 4 points, Logan Reger and Josh Culham each had 3, and  Myles Jensen added 2. The 8th Grade (A) now stands at 6-5, while the 8th Grade (B) is 6-1 in  games and extra periods this season. 

The 7th Grade (A) closed out the afternoon in what has become a strong rivalry between  the two programs. Hudson trailed 31-26 after three quarters but kept the contest competitive.  Jesup pulled away late at the free-throw line to complete the sweep with a 43-31 win. 

Lukah Bergmeier led with 8 points, Cael Backes added 7, Knox Griffin 6, Cooper  Warnell 4, Mason Strayer 2 and Gavin Kliegl 1. The Pirates combined for 5 steals and 18  rebounds, led by Backes with 7 boards. The 7th Grade (A) moves to 7-2 with three games  remaining. 

vs. Janesville 

Hudson welcomed the Janesville Wildcats on Thursday for two more home matchups.

In the first game, the 7th Grade (A) Pirates faced a combined 7th/8th Wildcat team. The  game remained tight through three quarters, with Hudson trailing 41-38. The Pirates found their  rhythm in the fourth, pulling away for a 53-45 win. 

Knox Griffin led with 14 points, shooting 5-8 from the field and 4-7 from beyond the arc.  Lukah Bergmeier added 10, Cooper Warnell and Rocco Thompson each scored 8, Cael Backes  and Jace Kuker had 4 apiece, and Mason Strayer and Gavin Kliegl each contributed 2. In the final game of the week, the 8th Grade (B) controlled play from the opening tip,  cruising to a 36-7 victory. Davis Germain turned in a strong performance with a double-double,  finishing with 10 points and 21 rebounds, along with 3 assists and 3 steals. Myles Jensen added  12 points, going 4-9 from three-point range, Gavin Lidtke had 8, and Dylan Rhymer, Logan  Reger and Gabe Beach each scored 2. 

The 8th Grade (B) improves to 7-1 in games and extra periods this season, while the 7th  Grade (A) moves to 8-2 heading into the final week of play. Hudson will host Aplington Parkersburg before closing the season on the road at LaPorte City Union.