Ottumwa -- After struggling through their lowest-scoring first half of the season, Indian Hills used a couple of second-half bursts to pull away from Northeast (Neb.) and keep alive the program's string of conference championships. The Warriors' 78-53 triumph over Northeast on Saturday night also preserves the unbeaten season of the now-top-rated team in the nation.
IHCC (29-0, 7-0) finished first all alone in the ICCAC in nine of the past 10 seasons, including this year, and tied for the top spot in the 2010-11 campaign.
On a night when the Warriors honored eight sophomores and one redshirt freshman, they had a difficult first half, shooting less than 33 percent and committing a dozen turnovers. A one-time 11-point advantage was sliced to five by intermission. IHCC's 28 points in the opening period were the fewest since they were held to 25 first-half points twice last season.
Northeast (13-15, 0-7) was still within striking distance when they trailed 41-35 six minutes into the final half. Indian Hills freshman James Jean-Marie began a quick 7-0 spurt with a three-point play and ended it with a dunk off a dandy pass from Corey Manigault. Jean-Marie and Manigault each scored 13 points.
The score was 50-41 before the Warriors were finally able to put the Hawks away, going on a 21-4 run that included 12 unanswered points.
Indian Hills improved to a 53 percent field-goal percentage in the second half while holding Northeast to 31 percent for the game. The Hawks managed only 4-of-24 3-point shooting.
Ivan Aurrecoechea's 19 points topped Indian Hills and Antonio "Booman" Williams, like Aurrecoechea a two-year starter, added 16.
It was IHCC's eighth win in a row against the Hawks, who are 1-18 all-time at the Hellyer Center.
Allen Anderson led NCC with 17 points and Steve Wooten, their season scoring leader, was limited to 13.
Indian Hills will look to complete an undefeated regular season when they journey to Council Bluffs to take on Iowa Western next Saturday night. With their first-place league finish the Warriors are assured of playing at home during the postseason region and district tourneys as long as they keep winning.
INDIAN HILLS 78, NORTHEAST 53
INDIAN HILLS
Ivan Aurrecoechea 8 3-3 19, Jamel Allen 1 0-0 2, Antonio Williams 6 3-4 16, Tomas Woldetensae 0 0-0 0, Shane Gatling 2 0-0 5, Connor Murrell 2 0-0 5, Devontae Lane 0 0-0 0, Corey Manigault 4 5-7 13, Rob Montgomery 1 1-1 3, James Jean-Marie 6 1-1 13, Javier Valeiras 1 0-0 2 Team 31 13-16 78
NORTHEAST
Steve Wooten 5 1-2 13, Melki Moreaux 1 0-0 2, Allen Anderson 6 3-4 17, Moses Byekwaso 1 0-0 2, Jaquan Sanders 4 4-4 12, Julius Sakinis 1 1-2 3, Asher Scavella 0 0-2 0, Brandon Villapando 0 0-0 0, Majok Kur 1 2-2 4 Team 19 11-16 53
Halftime score: Indian Hills 28, Northeast 23; Three-point field goals: IHCC 3 (Williams 1, Gatling 1, Murrell 1), NCC 4 (Wooten 2, Anderson 2)