“We had a couple turnovers there and they capitalized on it,” Appel said. “I just didn’t think they were mentally prepared to compete and play a ballgame tonight, and ultimately that falls on me.”

The Bobcats (4-15, 2-8) didn’t score for the first six minutes of the game and scored just seven points in the first half. The game’s box score underscores what a bad night it was for Marshalltown, with Armmoniey Thomas — who started off of the bench — and Isaiah Borgos the only two Bobcats to register points. Thomas had 12, while Borgos had four.

Ames was without its best player in Tamin Lipsey, who is out for the year with an injury, but the Little Cyclones were efficient on the offensive end of the floor. Ames scored 17 points in the first and kept the pressure up in the second quarter to take a 30-point lead into the halftime break.

Appel said the team’s own offensive play was stilted by the Little Cyclones’ 2-3 zone look.

T-R PHOTO BY NOAH ROHLFING

“They did a good job of blocking off the lane,” Appel said. “We got open looks, we just couldn’t make them. If our shots aren’t going, it’s like our energy and effort goes with it. That can’t happen.”

When the shots aren’t going down, as they weren’t tonight for the Bobcats, Appel said the team can get discouraged and not give its all the entire game. It was clear when the Little Cyclones got second-chance points and controlled the physical battles in the paint that it wasn’t going to be Marshalltown’s night, and the gap widened to 34 points in the third quarter. With a running clock, the game finished quickly and both teams emptied the benches.

Now with less than two full weeks until the end of the regular season, time is running out on this Bobcats team to play its best basketball.

Appel said it starts with him, and it starts with getting a consistent effort out of his players.

“It comes down to, can we give our full effort every single possession,” Appel said. “Can we do the little things to win ballgames?”

Up next for the Bobcats is a trip to Waukee Friday night.

Ames 60, Marshalltown 16

At Marshalltown

AMES (9-10) — Cooper Downs 1 2-2 4, Keyshaun Brooks 4 0-0 10, Jamison Delisi 3 0-0 9, Jonah Strawhacker 4 0-0 9, Corey Phillips 3 5-5 11, Akol Atack 1 0-0 2, Sam Vertanen 1 0-0 3, Jay Rathe 1 0-0 3, Tate Zalasky 1 0-0 2, Patrick Krapfl 2 0-0 5, Niko Stevens 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 22 7-7 60.

MARSHALLTOWN (4-15) — Drake Kapayou 0 0-0 0, Justin Melde 0 0-0 0, Will Van Burne 0 0-0 0, Isaiah Borgos 2 0-0 4, Aiden DeVolder 0 0-0 0, Armmoniey Thomas 5 0-0 12, Austin Shomo 0 0-0 0, Grant Greazel 0 0-0 0, Sean Nyuon 0 0-0 0, Dwight Joah 0 0-0 0, Trevor Stamp 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 7 0-0 16.

AMES 17 20 9 14 — 60

MHS 4 3 5 4 — 16

3-Point-Goals–Ames 9 (Delisi 3, Brooks 2, Vertanen, Rathe, Strawhacker, Krapfl), MHS 2 (Thomas 2). Total Fouls–Ames 3, MHS 12. Fouled Out–none.