The Washington Demons will get back to work with non-conference play tonight, as the boys and girls host Ottumwa for a doubleheader you can hear on KCII.
On the girls side, the Demons are 8-6 and will play for the first time since Monday, after winter weather postponed their planned conference game against Fairfield on Friday. Washington is 2-3 in their last five, but have played some heavy-hitters in that time period, including SEC conference leader Keokuk and state-ranked Tipton. The Demons have done a good job at mostly keeping their opponents under their scoring averages for the season, allowing just 41.2 points per game. However, the team only averages 44.2 points per game themselves, relying mostly on that stellar defense to help bring them wins.
Despite the low scoring average, Washington has seen its shooting numbers go up in recent weeks, with the team now shooting 32.7% from the field and 25.9% from behind the three-point line. Adalyn Long leads the way with 14.5 points a game, but Reagan Miller has seen her totals go up in recent weeks, with the sophomore now averaging 7.1 points per game after a few double-digit performances.
The Ottumwa girls are enjoying a lot of success this season, sitting at 10-2 and 6-0 in the Iowa Alliance South standings. The Bulldogs are the winners of 10 straight after season opening losses to Fort Madison and Indianola. Ottumwa’s average margin of victory is over 25 points this season, with the Bulldogs averaging 62.1 points per game while allowing just 36.7 points a night.
Ottumwa is led by a freshman, Hayden Keith, a 5’8″ guard who averages 15.2 points a game. Three other players average in double-digit scoring this season, including two other freshman, 6’1″ center Emma Ryder at 13.1 points a game, and forward Blake Goldsmith at 12.5 points a game. Junior Allie Goedken also averages 12.5 a night.
The Washington boys come into tonight with an 8-5 record after losing to Carlisle last Tuesday. For the Demons, it will be their third straight non-conference game, having won against Tipton last Monday. Washington is averaging 57.8 points per game while allowing 57.5 points at the same time, a difference of just .3 points. Despite that, none of Washington’s last three games have been particularly close, with double-digit losses to Keokuk and Carlisle, but a double-digit win over Tipton.
Rajan Roth and Drew Conrad lead the scoring, with each scoring 14.6 points a night. Nic Stone is right behind them at 12.6 per game. Kael Williams has also proven himself to be a capable scoring threat, with his average rising to 8.8 points a game for the year.
Ottumwa’s boys are 2-10 this year and 1-6 in the Iowa Alliance South. The Bulldogs have struggled against the offenses of the conference, allowing just under 70 points a game while only picking up about 50 points a night. Ottumwa frequently plays SEC competition in non-conference play, with a loss to Burlington and a narrow win over Fairfield on their resume.
One Bulldog averages double-digit scoring, that being sophomore Cedrick VanEngelenhoven, who scores 11.2 points a night. Ottumwa does have size, and will have the advantage over Washington in that department, but 6’2″ forward Jace Mitchell leads the team in rebounding at 6.8 boards a game.
Tonight’s doubleheader begins at 5:45 p.m. with the Washington Demon Pregame show, followed by the girls tipoff at 6:15 p.m. The boys are set to follow.