West Burlington, IA -- With both Iowa Western and Southeastern already having secured a first round bye in the upcoming ICCAC Region Tournament; the game Saturday (2/15) evening between the Reivers and Blackhawks would determine who would earn the two seed and a home semi-final game against the other in two weeks. Both teams competed at a high level for that prime goal; and though Iowa Western controlled much of the contest, ultimately it would be the homestanding Blackhawks who would earn the higher seed with an 87-74 victory to split the season series with the Reivers and set up the rubber match in two weeks at Southeastern.
From the start both teams came out with the type of effort you would expect with a home playoff game on the line; as both clubs picked up right where they left off from their Jan 22nd classic contest that involved 27 lead changes and 10 ties; that game would ultimately go to Iowa Western in overtime 75-74. Jalen Dalcourt started things off for the Reivers with solid shooting from the perimeter on his way to a 17 point performance; as midway through the first frame the visiting team from Council Bluffs began to take control. The Reivers would twice earn leads of six points as the game edged towards halftime. Southeastern finished the final two minutes of the half with a 6-0 run that seemingly would have both teams tied at the break, however with just two seconds remaining Josiah Strong hit a three point field goal to send the Reivers into intermission up 43-40.
The second half opened up as the first half ended, with a Strong three point basket improving the Iowa Western advantage six. Strong would end the evening with 17 points along with Dalcourt; Caleb Huffman ended up the other Reiver in double figures with ten points. That opening basket gave the Reivers immediate distance for the Blackhawks, as Iowa Western would lead the game's next thirteen minutes. The Reivers had several opportunities to extend the lead past eight to ten points during that time, but did not. That time frame proved to be significant; as the home from West Burlingto, IA team began to chip away and take their first lead of the second half with 7:12 to play. Both teams then began their back-and-forth battle that they have become accustomed to playing against one another down the stretch. After Southeastern gained a two possession lead late in the contest, Iowa Western was resorted to fouling. The Blackhawks made 8/8 foul shots late to not only hold onto their lead but expand it to the final 87-74 margin, a score not indicative of how close the game truly was.
The Southeastern win means that Iowa Western will now travel back to West Burlington on Wednesday, Feb 26th for the rubber match between the two teams. Ironically, and showing how even both teams have been this season, Southeastern controlled most of the game they lost in Council Bluffs, and the Reivers controlled much of the contest they would lose at Southeastern. That dynamic sets up an intriguing semi-final affair in two weeks.
But before all of that, Iowa Western has one more week of the regular season left; and it's a challenging one at that. The Reivers will face 25-2 North Central Missouri Tuesday (2/18) night at Reiver Arena in the final regular season home game for seven of it's sophomores. The Reivers could play one more final game at Reiver Arena if they can win the ICCAC Region Tournament and then host the NJCAA District Final on March 5th. Tip time for Reiver sophomore night Tuesday against the Pirates is slated for 7:00pm.
