The ADM Tigers took on the Ballard Bombers to open up Raccoon River play Friday, December 2. The Tigers were coming off a tough loss to Pella Christian last Tuesday but there were many signs of a great season. Payton Conrad shot lights out going 7/8 from the floor and going 7/8 from the free throw line. Conrad led the team in scoring with 24 points and also led the team in assists putting up four of those.
The Bombers were coming off of their first win over Norwalk 65-62, with Max Stoltz and Tyler Ihle combining for 44 of those points. Tonight’s game was very important for

both teams needing to get out ahead in one of the toughest conferences in the state.

The first quarter was pretty slow offensively for both teams with Ballard coming out up 13-10 after the first quarter. During the second quarter, scoring took off for both teams, and ADM kept on finding the open man and a lot of time it was in the corner finding Tajen Ross, who finished with a team high 33 points, or Sam McCartney who finished to with 9 points all coming from behind the arc. ADM shot their way back into the game taking a big 7 point lead going into halftime, 30-23.

After the half, the Tigers came out red hot taking a game-high 15 point lead lead by once again Tajen Ross who got the momentum rolling with a breakaway slam–the first one of the year–but one t

hat certainly made a difference in the game instantly. The Bombers were a good team and fought back to get within 6 before the end of the quarter making the score 42-36. The bombers were led by Trey Drummond, finished with 19 points, who came up big in the second half when his team was begging for points. Coming down the stretch the Bombers were as close as a 1 point deficit but the Tigers kept on coming up clutch. Jared Sapp made a much-needed shot behind the arch and 2 free throws late in the 4th quarter. Sapp finished with 5 on the night and all of them came when the team needed him most.

The Tigers come out on top 60-57 over the Bombers to start off conference play with a good start. The Bombers travel to Pella for a tough road test against the Dutch on Tuesday.

A lot of things were different than the Tigers first game. “We moved the ball more, took better shots, and had big free throws in the clutch,” said Ross.

Ross, who made seven 3-point field goals, ahad a monster dunk and played with an attitude. Ross’s head was in the game. “Nothing was different, I just didn’t want to go 0-2 to start the season, I just wanted to win,” he said.

Ross wanted to win and that’s what the Tigers got. A big win with lots of positives. The Tigers look to build on this win next Friday as they travel to Winterset to take on the Huskies in their second Raccoon River Conference game.