Pirates defeat West Central

By Gary Simmons. Sr.
POSTVILLE - The Pirates hosted the West Central Blue Devils last Tuesday (February 8th) in a contest between two schools that have struggled most of the season but lately have found their way into the win column. Both teams had 11 game losing streaks this season and both teams needed a win. Postville put together four quarters of solid basketball to defeat West Central 63-41.
Postville had ten players in the scoring column and two players in double figures. Shooting 26 of 55 from the floor for 47% Postville enjoyed one of their better shooting nights of the season. Blue Devils hit 16 of 55 baskets from the field for 29%. West Central was 2 of 23 from the three point arch and Postville hit 8 of 18 from three point land.
Postville grabbed one more rebound than the Blue Devils as Tom Catterson led the Pirates clearing the boards for 6 rebounds out of the 29 total. Matt Moore lead the team with 8 assists and 4 steals.
Postville's Nick Zieman collected 19 points for the Pirates 15 of those points were made form three point land on 5 of 12 shooting. Darren Kraus added 13 points, 6 of his points came from beyond the arch. Seniors Matt Moore and Aandi Deering each tossed in 8 points for the Pirates.
The Blue Devils (1-3, 3-14) couldn't find the basket in the first quarter as Postville jumped out to a 10 point lead, 13-3. In the second quarter West Central begin to find the range and stayed with the Pirates scoring 14 points to Postville's 17. The Pirates went in at the break with a 30-17 lead.
Postville came out ready to play in the third quarter scoring 20 points while holding West Central to only 6 points. The 50-23 advantage shrunk a little in the fourth quarter as the Blue Devils outscored the Pirates 18-13. Postville wins by 22 points 63-41.
ELGIN - Another heartbreaker for the Pirates as they traveled to Elgin to take on Upper Iowa Conference rival Valley Community (7-4, 11-8). Postville (4-6, 4-15) have lost five games by six points or less this season. Last Friday night the Pirates lost another heartbreaker 51-50 to the Valley Tigers.
The first quarter had the Pirates out in front 16-11 to take a five point lead. By the end of the second quarter Postville had increased that lead to eight as they scored 13 points to Valley's 10 points. At the half the Pirates lead 29-21.
In the third quarter Valley came to play as they scored 19 points and cut the lead down to just two points, as Postville scored 13 points making the score 42-40. The legs got tired and the points were harder to come by in the fourth quarter as Postville scored 8 points, but the Tigers outscored the Pirates with 11 points to win by one points, 51-50.
Three Pirates scored in double figures led by Nick Zieman with 18 points. Zieman hit 6 of 10 from beyond the three point line. Seniors Matt Moore had 11 and Aandi Deering collected 10 points for the Pirates. Darren Kraus finished the game with 6 points.
Postville out rebounded the Tigers 32-24 with Aandi Deering grabbing 12 boards. Matt Moore led the team in assists with six and Andy Livingood had 5 of Postville's seven blocked shots.
The Pirates step out of conference for another border battle with Minnesota as they traveled to Mabel to play Mabel/Canton Tuesday night. Postville will finish their season on the road at Lansing against the Kee High Hawks Thursday night.