The West Fork boys basketball team is 1-3 overall and 1-2 in the Top of Iowa Conference East at the holiday break. The Warhawks entered the break with some momentum, earning their first win of the season 52-38 at home over Saint Ansgar on Friday, December 19. Head Coach Abe Maske says the Warhawks showed great team effort in the matchup.
“We played 10 kids, not by design, all 10 kids scored, which shows team effort wise, we were really focused on moving the ball. We were doing the things that we needed to do. We were doing things that were within our strengths. We’ve got kids that are understanding their roles much more now and really seeing what they can do with that role,” says Maske. “Defensively, I really thought we stepped up. We started to understand a little bit more what we needed to do defensively. I got to give credit to all 10. When they stepped in, they stepped in and really solidified their role. If it’s to go in and get rebounds, then that’s what they did. If it’s to be a defensive stopper, that’s what they did. Overall, it was just a great team effort.”
The Warhawks have a balanced scoring effort led by Zander Hansen with 12 points per game. Lane Kollmann has 9.8 points per game at 47.2 percent shooting from the field. Ayden Bonner adds 9.2 points and leads the team with 3.5 assists per game. Maske says shooting consistency is a focal point of practice over the break.
“Really taking the opportunities that we have for practice dates and maximizing what we’re trying to get out of it. We’re going to continue to really work hard on the shooting aspect,” says Maske. “We need to get some players being a little more consistent with their shots. Coming in they were consistent. Then the games get going and the nerves get there. We’ve got to do a better job of putting them in game situations at game speed in practice.”
The Warhawks are averaging 35.8 total rebounds and 14 offensive rebounds per game, both marks are the best in the conference. Keston Lambertson leads rebounding effort with 5.8 boards per game.
West Fork will return to action against Iowa Falls-Alden in a neutral site game at the Casey’s Center in Des Moines on Saturday, January 3. It will air on 104.9 KLMJ.
