PCM Boys Basketball Edges South Hamilton in Substate Opener

Mustangs advance to face Van Meter in next round after 57-50 win

Feb. 18, 2026 at 11:15pm

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The PCM boys basketball team defeated South Hamilton 57-50 in the opening round of Class 2A Substate 3 play on Monday night. The Mustangs led 16-6 after the first quarter, but the Hawks rallied to make it a close game, trailing 30-27 at halftime and 41-39 after three quarters. Ultimately, PCM held on for the victory and will now take on Van Meter in the next round on Thursday.

Why it matters

This win keeps PCM's season alive as they advance in the high school basketball postseason tournament. The Mustangs and Hawks are familiar conference opponents, making this a hard-fought matchup between two teams that know each other well.

The details

PCM was led in scoring by Kevin Thomas with 15 points and Kash Fischer with 13 points. The Mustangs jumped out to a 16-6 lead after the first quarter, but South Hamilton closed the gap to 30-27 by halftime. The Hawks continued to battle in the second half, trailing by just 41-39 at the end of the third quarter, but PCM was able to hold on for the 57-50 victory.

  • The game was played on Monday, February 17, 2026.
  • PCM will face Van Meter on Thursday in the next round.

The players

Kevin Thomas

A player for the PCM Mustangs who led the team in scoring with 15 points.

Kash Fischer

A player for the PCM Mustangs who scored 13 points in the win.

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What’s next

The winner of the PCM vs. Van Meter game on Thursday will advance to the next round of the Class 2A Substate 3 tournament.

The takeaway

This hard-fought win keeps PCM's season alive as they continue their postseason run, showcasing the competitive nature of the high school basketball playoffs in Iowa.