Sports 14 February 2019

Surviving for another game

Nolan Howard didn’t want his basketball career to end Wednesday night, and his sentiment had plenty of company among his classmates and fellow Chickasaws.
“I tried not to think about it, but yeah, this could be the last time I ever get to play high school basketball crossed my mind,” Howard said, “and I guess that probably gives you a little extra fire.”
Not that Waukon made it easy on New Hampton, but thanks to some excellent ball movement, an ability to overcome adversity and some brilliant free-throw shooting down the stretch, the Chickasaws pulled out a 78-73 win over Waukon in the twice-postponed Class 2A district opener.
“We answered the bell and we had some kids really step up,” coach Ryan Rausch said after his team improved to 10-11 and earned a Thursday night trip to Cresco to play a semifinal game against Aplington-Parkersburg. 
“Even when we got behind at the start and even when Waukon made that run in the second half, you could see our guys believed in each other.”
New Hampton fell behind 8-4 early, but New Hampton rebounded to tie the game at 23 after the first quarter.
The Chickasaws opened the second quarter with a 14-6 run, one in which virtually every basket came via an assist and included points from Drake Wemark, Tanner Lane, Noah Fenske and Howard.
The win sends the NH boys to Cresco tonight [Thursday] to play Aplington-Parkersburg at 6:30 p.m. For the full story, please see the Feb. 15 Tribune.

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