OTTUMWA — The Indian Hills Warriors had defeated Iowa Western 11 straight  times coming into the Saturday match-up at the Hellyer Center.

The Warriors extended the streak to 12 with a 75-74 victory — but it took some big plays in the game’s final 10 seconds to get the win.

Gary Ricks rebounded a missed Warrior shot and scored in the lane to tie the game at 74 with under 10 seconds remaining. Roderick Bobbitt then got a steal up front in the Warrior press and found a way to get the ball to Brandon Spearman, who was fouled going up for the go-ahead shot with 5.9 seconds to play.

Spearman hit one of two at the line to give the Warriors the point they needed to pick up win number 25.

The Warrior press sealed the deal by forcing a Riever turnover on their hurried trip up the floor.

The 75-74 win pushes IHCC’s record to 25-3. The win also gives the Region XI championship to the 4-0 Warriors. More importantly though, the Warriors now will have home court advantage all the way to Juco National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kan.

Iowa Western never made it easy, however.

After D.J. Bennett completed a conventional three-point play for a 3-0 Warrior lead to open the game, Spearman’s hot hand gave the Warriors an 8-1 lead two minutes into the game. Spearman hit his first 3 of the game and followed with a basket to build the lead. Bobbitt's 3 pushed the Warrior lead to 11-3.

IWCC then responded, as the Reivers went on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to go up 13-11. Alonzo Traylor had consecutive baskets to start the run.

Another Spearman basket gave the lead back to the Waarriors at 16-15, but Traylor's three-point play gave the visitors an 18-16 lead at the first media timeout.

Trailing 20-16, Spearman scored again for his 8th & 9th points of the half.

“As a sophomore, I need to do what I can to lead the team.” said Spearman. “I spent some extra time this week working on my shooting. When I hit a couple of early ones, I thought I could help by looking to score.”

The Warriors pulled back to even at 20 at the 10 minute mark of the opening half.  Ricks answered a Riever 3 with the first of his three 3s in the game. His second 3 gave the Warriors a 28-23 lead with just over seven minutes to go in the half.

“I look for the 3 anytime I can get it.” said Ricks. “I think my teammates look for me to take that shot.”

The final minutes of the half saw the visitors out-score the Warriors 15-2 to take a 38-30 lead into the break. Two of the three guards in the IWCC lineup scored nine of the points. The Rievers used the speed of their guards and bounce passes to attack the middle of the press employed by the taller Warriors in the opening half.

“We had a ton of good looks in the first half, we just didn’t convert very many (11-of-33),” said Warrior coach Barrett Peery. “We liked the tempo of the game.”

The Warriors weren’t able to come out after halftime and immediately grab the lead from the Rievers, but the play of Bobbitt running the offense eventually led the Warriors back to the lead. He would have five assists and two steals in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

“I came out looking to get my teammates involved any way I could,” said Bobbitt.

Spearman again scored early to get the Warriors going after the break. His score to open the half cut the IWCC lead to six. A 3 by Xavier Munford gave the Rievers their biggest lead at 43-34.

IHCC enjoyed a 14-4 advantage over the next three minutes to take the lead back at 48-47. Spearman and Ricks each had a 3 in the run. Ricks’ third 3 gave the lead to the Warriors.

The teams traded leads for a couple of minutes before back-to-back 3s by IWCC’s Wil Martinez put the visitors up 53-51. Ricks tied it with two free throws coming of a technical foul assessed to the Rievers.

IHCC led 56-53 at the media timeout and then stretched the lead to 64-57 with just over eight minutes to play. Over the next three minutes, the Warriors would really control the play and go up 70-60 on an offensive rebound putback by Ronnie Stevens.

Other than much improved shooting from the field, the Warriors used a change in their press to take control of the game.

“We have to do that some because teams start to become too familiar with what we’re trying to do,” added Peery. “We tweeked it even a little again at the end to come up with the steal.”

IWCC fought back and gave the game its exciting finish by outscoring the Warriors 10-0 to tie it at 70 with just over two minutes to play. Munford had two 3s and Traylor completed the Riever comeback with a three-point play.

With just over a minute to play, Dustin Hogue scored for a 72-70 lead. The visitors used four free throws to go up 74-72 with just 32 seconds remaining.

Ricks big shot came seconds later.

“I was supposed to stay back for defense but when I saw the long rebound and I knew that that could be our last shot, I just reacted,” said Ricks.

Seconds later, Bobbitt and Spearman would combine to give IHCC the win.

“We brought an extra guy up front to force the turnover,” added Peery.

Indian Hills has big obstacles to overcome before being able to enjoy a trip back to Hutch. They will play Marshalltown in the best two-of-three (two games at Hellyer) and then host the North Dakota champion for the chance to be part of the national championship tournament.

“We've got some tough stuff to do yet but it's great to know that to reach one of our biggest goals, we just need to defend our home court,” added Peery.

Indian Hills 75, Iowa Western 74

IWCC (74) — Munford 16, Devin Brooks 9, Antonio Levy 7, Kelvin Dixon 8, Traylor 20, Bernard Brame 2, Martinez 9, Tavian Pomlee 3. Totals 26-60 13-15 74.

3-point goals — 9-17 (Munford 4, Levy, Martinez 3, Pomlee). Fouled out — Dixon. Rebounds — 34 (Dixon 10). Assists — 19 (Levy 7). Steals — 9 (Brooks 5). Blocks — 3 (Dixon 2). Total fouls — 25. Turnovers — 24.

IHCC (75) — Tristan White 4, Bobbitt 5, Ricks 15, Michael Haynes 5, Hogue 7, Spearman 17, Jameel McKay 5, Stevens 7, Bennett 10. Totals 26-65 17-32 75.

3-point goals — 6-28 (Bobbitt, Spearman 2, Ricks 3). Fouled out — none. Rebounds — 41 (McKay 9, Stevens 9, Bennett 9). Assists — 17 (Bobbitt 7). Steals — 15 (Bobbitt 5). Blocks — 2 (McKay, Stevens). Total fouls — 17. Turnovers — 18

Halftime Score — IWCC 38, IHCC 30.