The Coon Rapids-Bayard boys basketball team held off a fourth quarter charge from Audubon and beat the Wheelers 60-51 to open up the season on Monday night. The Crusaders controlled a solid chunk of the game and were up 41-31 heading into the final period. Audubon’s Aaron Olsen hit three big threes in the fourth to rally Audubon back within three at 47-44. CR-B responded with a 9-0 run to salt the game away.

Senior Lance Clayburg was a monster inside for the Crusaders, finishing with 28 points and had a lot of offensive rebounds to get second chance points. Freshman Cal Heydon was great down the stretch with 9 fourth quarter points to bring his total on the night to 23. Next up for Coon Rapids-Bayard is a home game with Stanton on Tuesday.

Audubon got 16 points from Aaron Olsen, 12 from Collin Bauer and 11 from Carson Bauer. The Wheelers drop the first game under new head coach Jacob Privia and will try to bounce back on Tuesday against Missouri Valley.