(Clarinda) Atlantic overcame a 12-point first-half deficit to defeat Clarinda 56-51 at Clarinda on Tuesday night.
The Trojans welcomed back Tyler Moen sidelined with an injury since mid-December. The senior led the team in scoring with 14 points, Craig Alan Becker tossed in 11, and Dayton Templeton chipped in 10 points for the Trojans now (4-6), on the season. Skyler Handlos knocked down 9 points, Grant Sturm 7, and Nile Petersen netted 5-points.
Nathan Lindsey led the Cardinals with 26-points which is double his average on the season. Michael Shull scored 11, Connor Brown, 8, Drew Brown, 4, and Kory Rogers chipped in 2.
Atlantic led 10-6 midway through the first quarter, but the Cardinals fired back with seven straight points to grab a 13-10 lead on Connor Brown’s three-point basket. The Trojans drained two free throws at the end of the frame to close the gap to 13-12.
“We had to had to knock the rust off after being idle for eight days,” said Atlantic Head Coach Jeff Ebling. “I thought we played extremely well in the first quarter and made some adjustments during the halftime break.”
The Cardinals opened the second quarter with an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 26-14, but the Trojans cut the lead to single digits with a three-point shot at the end of the second quarter to close the gap to 26-17.
Atlantic’s offense started clicking in the third quarter. Templeton knocked down a three to bring the visitors within one-point 34-33 with 3:52 left in the third stanza. Becker’s layup a short time later capped off an 18-8 run to give his team a 35-34 advantage. The Cardinals scrambled back outscoring the Trojans 11-5 to lead 45-40 at the end of three-quarters.
Tyler Moen sparked the Trojan offense in the fourth period and Craig Alan Becker’s defense on Clarinda’s talented post player Nathan Lindsay willed the Trojans to victory. Moen’s jumper in the lane with 5:19 left to play tied the game at 47. Lindsay’s basket in the paint pushed the score to 49-47, Cardinals. But the Trojans gained 51-49 lead on Moen’s bucket and never trailed after that. The senior’s two-free throw late in the game sealed a 56-51 victory.
“I thought Dayton Templeton played extremely well for a sophomore and Craig Alan Becker did a great job of defending Nathan Lindsey in the second half,” said Ebling. “We had guys come through when we needed them the most. We got the win and that’s what’s most important.
Atlantic hosts Harlan on Friday night. Clarinda now (6-5) travel to Sidney on Thursday night.
