Slow start dooms Warriors against Green Devils

By Andrew Larson

Press Correspndent

OSAGE — A slow start and an overpowering Osage offense proved to be Rockford’s undoing as the Warriors stumbled on the road Friday night, 54-44.

The Warriors took an early 3-0 lead off a 3-point basket from sophomore Zach Bushbaum, but the fast-paced Osage offense took over from there and never looked back. Rockford’s offense struggled significantly in the first half, resulting in a 16-point deficit heading into a break.

Rockford’s offense in the first half largely consisted of Bushbaum and senior Adam Staudt, who combined for 11 of the Warriors 16 first half points.

The bright spot for Warriors came in the third quarter, during which the Warriors outscored the Green Devils 19-7. The Warriors cut down the Green Devils’ lead down to 2 points.

The run came on the strength of accurate 3-point shooting from Bushbaum and freshman Jacob Staudt, along with contributions from seniors Tony Hain and Dalton Winters, as well as Adam Staudt.

After a late field goal by Osage, the score stood at 39-35 at the end of the third quarter.

The Warriors struggled to keep their momentum going during the fourth quarter, and eventually the Green Devils were able to pull away enough to keep Rockford at bay.

After the game, Warriors coach Ben Klapperich was disappointed by the loss, but not disappointed in the way his team played.

“We definitely came out ready to play in the second half, but we’ve got to figure out how to put together a full 32 minutes of basketball,” he said. “We won the second half. After trailing by 16 at halftime, that’s what we wanted to do.”

Bushbaum led the team with 15 points, going 5-for-8 from beyond the 3-point line, and had three steals. Hain and Winters led Rockford’s rebounders, tallying six boards apiece.

Sophomore Alex Shriever recorded a game-high six assists for Rockford (7-12, 4-10 Top of Iowa-East).

Drew Olson had 14 points to lead the Green Devils (15-3, 11-2).

The Warriors’ final two games of the season come at home on Monday and Tuesday night. First the Warriors square off against St. Ansgar, followed by the finale against North Butler.