Pirate Boys Basketball: Pirates Finish Week 2-0 With Two Signature Wins

By Kevin Yoder  
Photo Credit: Oliver Thompson

To this point in the season, the Hudson boys basketball team had beaten each team on  the schedule as the favorite, and lost to each team as the underdog.  

That all changed last week.  

Hudson headed to 11-2 Denver on Tuesday looking to avenge a 15-point loss from the  first game after Christmas. The game started like others have, with the Pirates playing stifling  team defense and hitting shots from behind the arc.  

Then big man Tade Roberts picked up two early fouls and was forced to sit extended  minutes. Roberts had carried the Pirates offensively all season, now it was time for the  backcourt to return the favor.  

Anderson Yoder, Blake Delagardelle, Bowen Backes and Jackson Nesteby each took  turns knocking down three-point shots. A 25-all tie at the half allowed the Pirates to regroup,  but gave them plenty of confidence that their timely shot-making and smothering defense was  working.  

They began the second half like they ended the first, and despite Roberts picking up his  fourth foul early in the third quarter, they turned a halftime tie into a three-point advantage after  three.  

In the closing minutes the game came down to hitting just enough free throws,  combined with the Cyclones’ inability to overcome great Pirate defense. After an intentional  free throw miss from Delagardelle, and a desperate Denver throw from 80 feet went begging,  Hudson slammed the door on a one-point victory 55-54.  

Delagardelle led all scorers with 19 on 5 for 9 from three. Yoder contributed 12 with 9  assists. Nesteby added 8 while Roberts and Backes had 6 apiece. Owen Bell rounded out the  scoring with 4 of his own.  

Building on the momentum of the Denver win, Hudson returned home to host the 10-3  East Marshall Mustangs.  

East Marshall would prove to be another steep challenge, as they brought the state’s  top scoring offense with the highest three-point shooting percentage.  

But like many of Hudson’s opponents have found, scoring on the Pirates pressure zone  defense is daunting. East Marshall was no exception, and following a hot start by the home  team the Pirates shot out to an early 10-point lead.  

Balance was the key for the Pirates on this night, and they scored at all three levels.  Yoder spent much of the game driving the ball in the lane and either finishing at the rim, getting  to the line, or dishing to open shooters.  

Roberts was back to dominating around the rim, and Delagardelle, Backes and Nesteby  knocked down open look after open look.  

A four-point halftime lead remained the margin after the third quarter. The Mustangs  tried to get back into the fight in the fourth, but exceptional free throw shooting and composed  ball handling kept the visitors at arm’s length. Hudson was able to hold East Marshall to more  than 20 points below their season average, and finished with a 63-57 win.  

The Pirates finished with four players in double figures. Yoder led the way with 17  points, Roberts had 15, Delagardelle 12 and Backes 11.  

Hudson shot 9/16 from three-point range and 18/23 from the free throw line to seal the  victory.  

Hudson now sits at 8-6 on the season and coach Sean Leonard sees the growth of this  team, and knows the pieces are coming together.  

“We were finally the tougher team this week,”he began. “We made a few key plays in  each game that we didn’t make before, especially down the stretch in both games. Our guards  continue to shoot with confidence. Our defense has held steady all year and came up big for  us in both wins. We finally got to the free throw line like we hoped we would all year.” 

With a tough week in the rear view, the Pirates look to build on those wins, and secure  more in additional tough home games ahead, starting with Wapsie Valley on Tuesday and  senior night hosting Dike-New Hartford on Friday. Leonard believes they can.  

“We’ve gained the confidence we need and want to ride this momentum as long as  possible.”