PLEASANT HILL — Southeast Polk’s top two point-getters got more than Marshalltown as the Bobcat boys’ basketball team suffered decisive defeat in Friday’s regular-season finale, falling 61-44.

Bode Goodman scored a game-high 26 points and Riley Edwards added 19 as the Rams (8-14) rolled.

It marked Marshalltown’s third-straight loss as well as its most lopsided loss of the season.

“I just didn’t know how much we really wanted to play and how prepared we were to play mentally,” said MHS head coach Michael Appel. “I just said to them I was kind of disappointed with how we approaced this game from the start, and that’s really the first time I’ve had to say that in a long time.

“The message is ‘don’t take these things for granted.’ This was our last regular-season game and just our attitudes and how we approach things wasn’t where we needed to be to beat a team like this.”

Southeast Polk, though finishing next-to-last in the new-look Central Iowa Metropolitan League, looked ready to go from the opening tip. The Rams jumped out to a 7-0 lead, though the Bobcats battled back to within 10-9. Southeast Polk got the final four points of the first period and its 14-9 lead ballooned to 25-17 by halftime.

Marshalltown (12-9) made various surges throughout the third quarter but couldn’t close the gap before Southeast Polk pulled away in the final stanza.

Goodman, a sophomore, scored 14 of his 26 points after halftime and Edwards got 13 of his 19 after the break, too.

“They pretty much dominated us from the start,” said Appel. “I just thought they played way harder than us and executed better and just took it to us. We had no answer for them tonight and that’s just the honest truth.

“[Edwards and Goodman] got it going and they’re tough to stop when that happens. I think the game really boiled down to those two guys to be honest and their other guys played hard as well. We had a hard time, we had a hart time doing anything tonight.”

Dalen Huston had 14 points and eight rebounds to lead the Bobcats, while Carter Giannetto made three of his four 3-pointers after halftime en route to 12 points. Drake Kapayou hit a pair of treys for six points and Gatleel Joar pitched in with five points off the bench in mop-up time.

Treshaun Brooks contributed six rebounds but was limited to two points as Marshalltown sauntered into the postseason on a three-game slide.

The Bobcats host Des Moines Lincoln (10-11) in Monday’s Class 4A Substate 7 opening-round matchup. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Roundhouse as the Railsplitters will look to avenge a 78-59 home loss to MHS from earlier this season.

“We have to make sure we bounce back the right way and have a great practice Sunday to get ready for Lincoln,” Appel said. “They’re gonna be excited to play us and we’ve got to be ready to go.”

Southeast Polk 61, Marshalltown 44

MARSHALLTOWN (12-9) — Carter Giannetto 4 0-0 12, Treshaun Brooks 1 0-0 2, Drake Kapayou 2 0-0 6, Jaxson Eisenbarth 1 0-0 3, Dalen Huston 5 3-4 14, Gatleel Joar 2 0-0 5, Cael Sandvick 0 0-0 0, Brayden Weatherly 0 0-0 0, Jackson Bowie 0 0-0 0, Cory Smith 1 0-0 2, Rogelio Ceren 0 0-0 0. TOTALS 16 3-4 44.

SOUTHEAST POLK (8-14) — Marek Beshear 1 0-0 2, Riley Edwards 7 2-2 19, Bode Goodman 11 1-1 26, Lincoln Cantrall 2 0-0 5, Keyshaun Lewis 0 0-0 0, Connor Moberly 1 1-2 3, Zeb Hinze 0 0-0 0, AJ Shaefer 0 0-0 0, Carson Robbins 0 0-0 0, Jaxen Barton 1 0-0 2, Noah Frank 0 0-0 0, Trey Lust 0 0-0 0, Jamari Williams 2 0-0 4. TOTALS 25 4-5 61.

MHS 9 8 15 12 — 44

SE POLK 14 11 15 21 — 61

3-Point Goals–MHS 9 (Giannetto 4, Kapayou 2, Joar, Eisenbarth, Huston), SEP 7 (Edwards 3, Goodman 3, Cantrall). Team Fouls–MHS 8, SEP 10. Fouled Out–none.