It was a Southeast Conference split on Friday night when the Washington basketball teams met up with Fort Madison for the second time on the season.
Some nights just aren’t your night and that was the case for the Demon girls, as they fell to the Bloodhounds 49-20 on the road. As heard on KCII, ice cold shooting was the Demon bugaboo all night and Fort Madison took advantage. Washington saw an 11-3 deficit at the end of one stretch into 20-9 at the break and 31-15 after three. Second half runs have been a trend for the Demons, but they could never gain any traction in this one with Fort Madison answering any made bucket by Washington. Camille Kruse was hard to stop for the Bloodhounds finishing with a game-high 23 points including five field goals from behind the arc. Washington didn’t have as good of luck from deep, as they finished 0-25 from long range. Head Coach Shannon Rugg tells KCII Sports nothing was falling. “We had some good looks, but couldn’t get the ball in the hole. We rushed some shots a little bit, but really the looks were there. Our ball movement was really good so it was just a matter of not finishing possessions.” Fort Madison was efficient at the line finishing 21 of 24. Anna Nacos led the Demons with eight points, as they fall to 11-7 overall and 4-5 in the league.
It’s been 14 years since the Demon boys have captured a conference title and they will have an opportunity next week to change that narrative after a 78-41 home beat down of the Bloodhounds. They led just 18-15 after one, but exploded in the next two quarters leading 70-35 after three and cruised to the 37-point victory. The ongoing theme of spreading the wealth continued, as four players finished in double figures led by Ethan Patterson’s career high 24 points. Luke Turner tallied 13 points, Brock Sobaski had 11, and Trashaun Willis recorded 10. Washington is now 13-4 overall and 8-1 in the league. Keokuk is 7-1 in the conference and has a date with Burlington on Tuesday before finishing up with the Demons on Friday with league title implications on the line. If the Chiefs lose to the Greyhounds, the Demons would clinch at least a share of the crown.
Both teams get right back on the court this afternoon at Clear-Creek Amana with the girls game starting at 3 p.m. and the boys to follow.