The Cozad Haymakers put another one in the bag on Saturday to keep their perfect season alive. They managed a 46-40 win over Ainsworth. Given Cozad's advantage in MaxPreps' Nebraska basketball rankings (they are ranked ninth, while Ainsworth is ranked 56th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Cozad found their leader in underclassman Olliver Davis, who dropped a double-double on 17 points and 11 rebounds. Those 11 rebounds set a new season-high mark for him. The team also got some help courtesy of Chayden Hoffmaster, who scored seven points.
Ainsworth lost despite a true team effort on the offense, the best among them being Carter Nelson, who scored eight points along with ten rebounds and five assists. Nelson hasn't dropped below two blocks for three straight games. Trey Appelt was another key contributor, dropping a double-double on 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Cozad's win was their sixth straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 6-0. Those victories were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 56.2 points per game. As for Ainsworth, their defeat dropped their record down to 5-1.
Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Cozad will be home for the holidays to greet Superior at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Ainsworth will be home for the holidays to greet Burwell on Tuesday.
