WOODWARD, Iowa — The Woodward-Granger boys gave a high-powered Central Decatur team all they could handle before eventually falling in their non-conference meeting Thursday.
Central Decatur (19-2) was tested throughout, with unheralded W-G (1-20) playing even, at 16-all, through the opening period and trailing only 38-31 at the intermission. The hosts closed to within 57-47 after three quarters, but the Cardinals managed an 18-15 scoring edge in the last eight minutes to depart with the victory.
The 62 points were the second-most scored by W-G this season, trailing only the 63 put on the board against Woodward Academy.
Carter Moran led the Hawks with 22 points, with Dane Polich adding 16 points and Chandler Drake a season-high 10 points. Collin Nardini provided six points, Don David four and Josh Hultman and Cooper Thielen two apiece. The team was without leading scorer Brody Nardini.
Moran and Polich each had eight rebounds and Drake seven, with Moran also recording three assists and three steals.
Trey Hullinger had 19 points, Gunnar Smith 18 and Matthew Boothe 15 for Central Decatur.
W-G plays Interstate-35 (6-14) at 6:30 p.m. Monday in a Class 2A Substate 8 first round tilt. The winner will play host Van Meter Thursday at 8 p.m.
