Bill Howes, Associate Editor
Win Over Bondurant-Farrar Gives Chargers First State Appearnce Since 1972
What an unbelievable game.
The "never say die" attitude of the Chariton Chargers came through loud and clear with a thrilling, edge of your seat drama-filled win over Bondurant-Farrar, 63-61, in the Class 3A Sub-State 7 final at Ankeny Centennial High School on March 3rd. Both teams came back from large deficits to take the lead several times and displayed the heart of a champion throughout the game. However, in the end Chariton was victorious and punched their ticket to the state tournament.
It will be Chariton's first state tournament appearance since 1972. The Chargers (21-3) will open up play against Dubuque Wahlert (20-4) at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Dubuque Wahlert won the Class 3A Sub-State 4 final against Cedar Rapids Xavier, 70-62, March 3rd.
In 1972, then Chariton Head Coach Bob Cain guided CHS to the state tournament. Eventual state champion Cedar Rapids Kennedy beat them in the first round, 77-63. There were only two classes back then and Chariton was in the big class, which was 2A.
The starters for the 1972 team were 6'7" All-State center, Jim Greeley, who was also first team all-conference. The two guards were Bob Foote and Scott Curtis, who both made first team all-conference. The two forwards were Dennis Boyd and Jay Hammin and both made second team all-conference. This information about the 1972 state team was compiled from an article done about Cain's career in the January 24, 2012 Chariton Leader.
The Charger crowd was outstanding in cheering their team on to victory. Both the adult and student sections were jam packed in a sea of red and were overjoyed when their team came out victorious in the end. Fans stormed the court to congratulate the team and coaches on their victory and their state tournament berth.
The game was tight early on and Bondurant's quick driving guard, Tyvin Riley, big man Sam Duffy and sharpshooter Drake Fuller were effective against Chariton's defense early on. Fuller drained a three from the corner to give Bondurant a 7-4 lead. With Bondurant leading 9-6, Ben Morrett, who hit a big clutch shot and free throw late, scored to make the game, 9-8.
A two-point basket and a three by Fuller put the Blue Jays up, 14-8. A Duffy basket put the Blue Jays up 16-9 but Laing answered with a three to cut the lead to 16-12 with 3:12 left in the first period. Riley hit a shot from the top of the key to put Bondurant up 20-12. A three by Grant Peterson made the score 23-14. Felderman drove in for a basket to cut the lead to seven. Fuller was fouled and hit one foul shot to make the score 24-16 after one period.
A three pointer by Riley gave the Blue Jays a 29-18 lead with 6:36 left in the first half. After this basket, Chariton went on an 11-2 run to cut the lead to two. Laing hit a two and back-to-back baskets by Hockenson cut the lead to 29-26. Duffy hit a basket to push the lead to five but Morrett hit a three at the top of the key to cut the lead to 31-29 with one minute left in the half. Fuller hit a two to push the lead back to four, 33-29, which was the score at halftime.
The Chargers switched to a zone defense, which bothered the Blue Jays some. Trailing 37-33, Christian Bengtson drilled a three-pointer to cut the lead to 37-36. A basket by Felderman gave the Chargers a 38-37 lead with 4:38 left in the third period. Hockenson hit a basket that caused the Charger crowd to erupt and put the Chargers up by three.
Shortly after the timeout, Fuller hit a three to tie the game at 40 apiece. After a Duffy basket to give the Blue Jays a two-point lead, the Chargers went on a 10-0 run. Hockenson hit back-to-back baskets and Bengtson drained a three, which made the crowd erupt and give the Chargers a 47-42 lead after three periods.
Shortly into the fourth, Laing hit a three to put the Chargers up 50-42. However after this the Blue Jays went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to one, 50-49, on a layup by Riley with 6:06 left in the game. Following a Charger timeout, Laing was fouled and made both free throws to put the Chargers up 52-49. He hit a basket to put them up by five. Felderman was fouled with 4:54 left and made both foul shots to give Chariton a 56-49 lead.
Bengtson made both free throws after being fouled with 4:16 left to give the Chargers a 58-50 lead. However the Blue Jays wouldn't quit and went on a 9-0 run to take a 59-58 lead with about two and a half minutes left.
With Chariton still trailing by one, Laing was fouled with 1:35 left. He made both free throws to give the Chargers a 60-59 lead. Morrett hit a huge basket to put Chariton up 62-59 with just over a minute left. Duffy hit a basket off a feed from Riley to cut the lead to one with 43 second left.
Morrett was fouled with 22 seconds left and Chariton leading by one. He missed the first foul shot but made the second to give Chariton a 63-61 lead. Following a Bondurant timeout with 17 seconds left, the Blue Jays drove the ball down the court and got four shots off underneath the basket to try to tie it. However none of them went in and the clock stuck zero, giving Chariton the win.
Hockenson had 19 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Laing had 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Morrett had 10 points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal.
Bengtson had 10 points, two rebounds, four assists and one steal. Felderman had eight points, seven rebounds, three blocks, one assist and one steal.
Chariton shot 15-28, 54 percent, from inside the arc and 5-12, 42 percent from three-point range. They shot 16-19, 84 percent, from the line. The Chargers pulled down 28 rebounds including 10 offensive boards.
Chariton committed 17 turnovers and 11 fouls. The Chargers had 14 assists, six steals and five blocks.
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