John Bohnenkamp for Pen City Current Sports
FORT MADISON - The first loss was going to hurt.
Fort Madison’s girls basketball team found that out Saturday afternoon in a 54-39 home defeat to Pella.
The Bloodhounds, under first-year coach Landon Bentley, opened the season with five consecutive wins, but the Dutch (5-2) took control of this game early and left Fort Madison scrambling.
A 14-1 run gave Pella a 23-9 lead midway through the second quarter, and although the Bloodhounds were able to get within eight points late in the fourth quarter, the early struggles proved devastating.
“Pella has been our biggest challenge so far,” Bentley said. “We knew they were going to come in, press us, and run. At first, it rattled us a little bit. Once we settled in, once we started moving the ball down the floor, and we finally got the shots we wanted.”
Fort Madison went almost six minutes without a field goal. The Bloodhounds were able to get to the free-throw line in the first half, but made just 6-of-16 free throws.
“We’re going to be a good shooting team,” Bentley said. “We’re going to start making shots. Early in the game, we need to start looking to get downhill more, and kind of get in our groove more early, rather than waiting until the second quarter, third quarter.”
Bentley did like how his team responded in the fourth quarter. Dayonna Davis opened the quarter with seven consecutive points, then Irelynd Sargent’s 3-pointer got Fort Madison within 45-37.
“When you hang around with a team like that, anything’s possible,” Bentley said. “I told the girls there was no way they thought we were going to be within eight points that late in the fourth quarter.
“I’m an energy guy. I think they see me bringing energy, and then they start showing that.”
Halle Menke led Fort Madison with 10 points. Sargent had nine and Davis had seven.
“Halle had some big baskets for us there in the second half, and so did Dayonna,” Bentley said. “Dayonna’s shooting will get going, and so will Ajia (Jenkins). I’m not worried about us not hitting shots, because we have good shooters.”
Abby Warner led Pella with 17 points. Kennedy Van Vark had 15.
Fort Madison is off until Friday’s game at Burlington.
“This group is fun,” Bentley said. “We’re enjoying each other, and we love each other. The whole team is on the same page, win or lose.
“We’re learning. This game right here is what we need for the bigger teams we’ll see later in the year. We need more games like this that will push us to our limits, that get us ready for what we’re going to see.”
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