We’re in the back half of January, and the Adel-Desoto-Minburn Tigers boys basketball team (3-10 overall; 0-8 RRC) is still looking for their first win inside the Raccoon River Conference. The second half of the league season began Friday night as ADM hosted the Ballard Bombers. The Tigers ended up on the short end of a 70-61 result.

ADM jumped out to a 17-13 lead after the first quarter. Ballard won the second quarter, 18-9, taking a 31-26 advantage into the locker room. Early in the third quarter, the injury bug hit ADM as senior Cole Knoll hit the hardwood on a rebound attempt grabbing his left hand with Ballard leading 36-33. Knoll wouldn’t return to the ball game, and Ballard outscored ADM, 34-28, the rest of the way for a 70-61 result. After the game, ADM boys basketball coach Aaron Mager discussed Knoll’s injury. “Sounded like when he hit the deck, he had a bucket, hit the ground, and the kid turned from Ballard and stepped on his hand as it was sideways,” Mager said, “Crushed those metacarpal bones. It’s frustrating for him because he means a lot to us. He’s springy, rebounds like crazy, and he’s starting to score and be confident in that regard.”

The Raccoon Valley Radio Network hasn’t learned the severity of Knoll’s injury or how the injury will impact his availability the rest of his high school basketball career. He entered Friday’s game as ADM’s leader in rebounds and blocked shots. Junior Koby Hardcastle led ADM’s scoring attack with 17 points, while senior Caleb Herrick added 12 points and 11 rebounds. The loss drops ADM’s overall record to 3-10, and the Tigers are winless in eight Raccoon River Conference contests. ADM will try for their first league win Tuesday in a Raccoon River Conference road contests against the Winterset Huskies (9-2 overall). Catch ADM basketball broadcasts all winter long on True Country, K 107.9 and worldwide at raccoonvalleyradio.com and on the KKRF mobile app.