(Atlantic) Four players scored in double-figures to lead Harlan to a 73-60 win over Atlantic in a Hawkeye Ten Conference girls’ basketball game at Atlantic on Thursday.
Claire Schmitz led the Cyclones with 19 points, Brecken Van Baale, 18, Jocelyn Cheek, 15, and Ashley Hall scored 13-points. Macie Leinen and Reagen Wicks chipped in six and two-points, respectively.
Jada Jensen led Atlantic with 15-points, Haley Rasmussen, 13, and Maycie Waters finished with 11. Lauren Nicholas and Tessa Grooms each scored six points, Taylor McCreedy 5, and Aspen Niklasen and Maddie Huddleson each chipped in two.
The Cyclones connected on three long-range buckets in the first quarter and raced out to a 22-10 lead. The visitors slapped a box-and-one defense on Atlantic’s prolific scorer Haley Rasmussen and held her scoreless through the first eight minutes. Rasmussen shook loose and scored six points in the second quarter, Jensen, added four and Maycie Waters knocked down two three-point buckets. The Cyclones outscored the home team 16-15 in the second quarter, and Atlantic outscored Harlan 16-15 in the third. However, Harlan splashed in three long-range baskets in the final frame to keep the Trojans at arm’s length and seal the 73-60 victory. Hall, Van Baale, and Macie Leinen hit the big counters, and Van Baale went a perfect four-for-four from the free-throw line in the final eight minutes of the contest.
The Cyclones move to (10-3) on the season and (5-2) in the Conference. Atlantic falls to (6-8) overall and (3-4) in the Hawkeye Ten.
The Trojans host Urbandale on Saturday night. The tip-off is slated for 7:30. Harlan hosts Denison-Schleswig on Tuesday.
