The Clarksville basketball teams will travel to Dunkerton for an Iowa Star Conference North rematch on Friday. The Dunkerton girls won 50-38 and the Raiders boys won 53-44 in their first meeting on December 16.
In the girls game, it will be a battle for sole possession of first place in the conference with three conference games remaining.
The Clarksville girls (13-4, 9-1 Iowa Star North) have won five games in a row including a 56-27 senior night win over Tripoli on Tuesday. The Indians have tested opponents with the second ranked defense in the conference, allowing 36 points while forcing 14 steals per game. Paige Kampman sets the tone with 22.9 points per game (leads the conference).
The #6 (1A) Dunkerton girls (15-2, 9-0 Iowa Star North) won their sixth game in a row 57-43 at #8 (2A) Maquoketa Valley on Thursday. The Raiders field the top ranked defense in conference allowing 31.7 points while forcing 15.8 steals per game. Kylee Pexa leads the team with 19 points per game (second most in the conference).
The Clarksville boys (1-14, 1-9 Iowa Star North) will look to bounce back from a four game slide which included a 69-50 senior night loss to Tripoli on Tuesday. Camden Behrends leads the team with 9.7 points per game, while shooting 35.2 percent from the field. Head Coach Jonah Woodward reflects on the first meeting with the Raiders and says mental and physical toughness will be needed in the rematch.
“That’s probably a game we should have won as well. That’s just part of some of the growing pains we’re going through. We’re really looking forward to playing Dunkerton again. Coach Knebel and Coach Rigdon do such a phenomenal job over there,” says Woodward. “That’s going to be another one, we got to grind it out, play our best defense and be the mentally and more physically tough team. It’s going to come down to whoever can defend it, rebound it and take care of it the best. That’s going to be the team that comes out and wins. Getting after it against a town, Dunkerton, that’s got a great basketball culture, we’re looking forward to it.”
The Dunkerton boys (9-8, 7-4 Iowa Star North) have lost back to back games including a 60-52 loss at Maquoketa Valley on Thursday. Braiden Lauritzen paces the team with 13 points per game, while shooting 42.4 percent from the field.
Action begins at 6:30 p.m. in Dunkerton.
