Rivalry Night at the Roundhouse

The rivalry heats up yet again on Friday as Marshalltown hosts Ames in a basketball doubleheader.

The Bobcats are 3-7 overall and 2-3 in CIML Iowa Conference boys’ basketball play at the halfway point of the regular season.

Blake Gimbel is averaging 12.9 points per game and Austin Hauser 12.7 ppg to lead Marshalltown.

The CIML Iowa is stocked with 3-point shooting expertise and the Bobcats are no exception. Marshalltown is eighth in Class 4A in 3-point field goals made (62) and that ranks them fourth in the conference. Valley leads 4A (78), Waukee is sixth (66) and Fort Dodge seventh (64).

The Bobcats lead the conference and are fourth in 4A in 3-point shooting percentage (.385).

Among the 4A individual leaders, Gimbel is third in treys made (27) and Hauser is tied for eighth (23).

While Valley and Waukee have established themselves as the league frontrunners at the halfway point of CIML Iowa play, Ames and Marshalltown look to be battling it out for the final spot in the upper half of the standings.

Ames has a one-game lead on the Bobcats thanks to a 58-48 victory on Dec. 9 in Ames.

The Little Cyclones (4-5, 3-2) are coming off back-to-back wins over Fort Dodge and Mason City. Justin Sloter is averaging 16.8 points per game for Ames.

To start the varsity games tonight at the Roundhouse, the Class 4A No. 4 Little Cyclones (10-1, 4-1) face the MHS girls (3-9, 1-4).

Ames has controlled the series of late with an average margin of victory of 25.8 points per game over the last six seasons. Defense has been a key factor as Marshalltown has scored 29 points or less in each of the last five contests.

Shaya Kellogg is scoring 12.4 points per game for the Little Cyclones. Jenna Power adds 10.6 ppg and Cheyenne Pritchard 9.9. Ames won its first 10 games of the winter before falling to Mason City last Friday.

Taylor Wagner is the Bobcats’ leading scorer at 8 points per game. Eisha Oden adds 7.4 ppg and is second in Class 4A in rebounds per game (10.8).

Tip-off for the girls game is scheduled for approximately 6:15 p.m. with the boys to follow.