Van Buren County ends season against Mediapolis

WEST BURLINGTON — Van Buren County held an early lead in its Class 2A Region 6 first round contest against fellow Southeast Iowa Super Conference foe Mediapolis, but a big second period by the Bulldogs was the difference maker as the Warriors were defeated 55-34.

Both teams started out slow in Monday nights contest, as the score was just 5-4 in favor of the Warriors midway through the quarter.

Mediapolis found its footing in the second, while Van Buren went cold.

The Bulldogs started the quarter with a 10-2 run, quickly retaking the lead, 19-12. The Warriors would score one final two point bucket, before Mediapolis ended the second with a 10-0 run. Van Buren was outscored 20-4.

“I think in the first half when we kept it close, we were rebounding really well and playing really solid defense,” Van Buren head coach Trey Magnani said. “It started to get away from us in the second quarter there and they started to get lots of second chance opportunities and that started to wear on us.”

Mediapolis had a good game plan on the defensive end, as they limited Van Buren’s star guard Jackson Manning to just five first half points.

“With their box-and-one they were able to succeed and limit what Jackson was able to do,” Magnani said. “That made it really tough for us on offense. It was a well executed game.”

Van Buren kept the scoring close in the third and fourth quarter, but the deficit was too great.

In the third, the Warriors were outscored by just one, 10-9, but the Bulldogs still held a hefty advantage, 39-23.

In the fourth, Van Buren gained some ground bring the game to within 13 points at 43-30 off a Jackson Manning three, but Mediapolis pulled away once again. The Warriors were outscored the rest of the way out, 12-4.

Jackson Manning finished with 10 for Van Buren. Lucas Fett had eight points. Anthony Duncan ended with five. Izaak Loeffler had four. Wyatt Mertens added three. Sam Warth had two. Owen Loeffler and Bryce Newcomb each chipped in one.

Van Buren County will lose just two seniors, Lukas McEntee and Owen Loeffler from this years squad.

“We’re gonna missed both of those seniors as leaders and hard workers,” Magnani said. “I’d say we took bigger steps than the record book would show this year. We finished up with only four wins, but I think if you asked any of the guys, we feel like we’re four wins better than last year. I think getting this first year with a new coach and a new way of doing things out of the way will lead to good things going into the summer and next year with us.”

The Warriors end their season with a 4-17 record.