The gymnasium at Adel-Desoto-Minburn High School was buzzing last night as the ADM boys basketball team opened their latest season against a prestigious non conference foe. As heard live on True Country K 107.9 and worldwide at raccoonvalleyradio.com and on the KKRF mobile app, the ADM Tigers welcomed the Pella Christian Eagles, last year’s Class 2A state runner-up, to Adel for an annual match up. After trailing by 11 in the fourth quarter, ADM battled back for a 65-63 victory. The game featured eight ties and four lead changes.

Three ADM players scored double-figure points in the victory. Junior Koby Hardcastle led the way 17 points. Senior Dalton Hews scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half, while senior Rylan Heffernan pitched in 10. After the game, Hews spoke about his second-half scoring outburst. “Shout out to all my teammates for getting me the open looks that I had,” Hews said, “If we don’t run our offense, it’s hard to get the looks we normally get (in practice). When we run our offense, pretty much anyone can score on our team, and we executed really well tonight.”

The victory marks the first 1-0 start for ADM boys basketball since the 2011-12 season and is the first win over Pella Christian since the schools started an annual non conference game in 2014-15. The ADM girls basketball team lost their matchup against Pella Christian, 52-28. Listen to the Raccoon Valley Radio Network local sports page tomorrow for a full recap.