KEOKUK - Fort Madison Head Coach Ryan Wilson said Saturday to win you have to meet pressure with pressure.
That's what happened in the River Rivalry Classic Saturday at Keokuk High School as the Hounds won their second game in as many days 61-53 over Centralia.
"It was a good team effort today. One of the guys said in the locker room that we're kinda figuring out roles and establishing our positions, where we need to be, and what we need to do," Wilson said.
The Hounds got a little pressure from Centralia midway through the fourth quarter after leading by 10 to start the period 47-37.
After Nathaniel Swigart hit a three from the left baseline a minute into the period, Centralia got buckets from Jack Romine and then a 3-ball from Benji Chick to cut the lead to seven.
The Hounds would commit a turnover on their next possession and Chick would score again in transition to make it a 5-point game 52-47 with 3:47 left.
But Fort Madison responded with some pressure of their own getting a slashing bucket at the hoop from Leif Boeding to push it back to seven. Callen Bennett would answer for Centralia and then Carson Rashid would hit a couple free throws and Julian Dear hit just inside the three point arc to push the lead back to 10.
Centralia would pick up two points in the final minute but couldn't get anything else going as the Hounds held on for the win.
Wilson said the Hounds are starting to know their roles and get comfortable in the system.
"Nathanial Swigart played some good minutes. He stepped in and played when we were in some foul trouble, and knocked down two big threes and you want that from your seniors," Wilson said.
The game was tight at the beginning with Fort Madison managing a 16-13 first quarter lead behind Rashid's 10 points. They would push that lead to 10 at 33-23 after Swigart hit his first 3-pointer of the night just before the buzzer.
Boeding, who finished with 16 points on the night, scored eight points unanswered draining a couple three balls to push Fort Madison's lead in the second quarter.
Fort Madison still hasn't established the inside out game, but teams are recognizing the potential of Hunter Cresswell. Centralia ran a collapsing zone defense to keep Cresswell from scoring in the paint, but that allowed Rashid, Boeding, and Dear to get some open looks on the perimeter.
"We've done a great job of getting the ball in the paint and kicking out and playing inside and out ball," Wilson said.
"That doesn't mean we get it to the post every time, but we're getting the ball inside one way or another and then reacting," Wilson said.
He said Cresswell is maturing and making things happen in other ways.
"He's working very hard and he was getting called for some fouls and things and you don't always agree with that, but you have to stay level headed."
Rashid led the Hounds with 20 points. He tied Centralia's Bennett for game-high honors.
Fort Madison travels to 3-3 Washington on Tuesday night for the final game before the break.
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