(Clarinda) The Atlantic boy’s basketball team clinched a share of the Hawkeye Ten Conference title with a 54-40 win over Clarinda on Friday. The Trojans move to 9-1 in the Hawkeye Ten Conference and share the title with Glenwood. The Trojans have won eight out of their last nine games and wrap up the regular season at home against Denison-Schleswig on Tuesday.
The Trojans avenged an earlier loss to the Cardinals. The visitors controlled the tempo from the get-go and arguably played their best defensive game up to this point in the season.
The Trojans trailed just once in the contest (4-3) and raced out to an 18-9 first-quarter lead. Grant Sturm and Dayton Templeton fueled the fire with three-point buckets, and Skyler Handlos and Ethan Williams each added four-points, and Garrett Reynolds chipped in two.
Clarinda made a run in the second quarter largely due to getting the ball inside to the big guy, Grant Jobe. The 6’5 junior post scored seven of the Cardinal’s 10-second quarter points while holding Atlantic to the same count. The Trojans led 28-19 at the half and opened up a 21-point lead twice in the second half. The Trojans held Clarinda to six third-quarter points and grabbed a 17-15 scoring advantage in the final frame to secure the 54-40 victory.
“The guys knew the scouting report from front to back, despite having a short turnaround after Thursday’s game with Shenandoah,” said Atlantic Head Coach Jeff Ebling. “They were locked in from the tip. We came out and threw the first punch and went from there. We were able to control the tempo early, and that was the big key,” said Ebling. “Our defensive intensity was outstanding, and it’s a tribute to the guys and all of their hard work they’ve put forth since mid-November.”
Three players scored in double-figures for Atlantic. Skyler Handlos led the way with 13-points, Dayton Templeton 12, Ethan Williams, 11, and Grant Sturm scored 8. Garrett Reynolds added four points, and Ethan Sturm, Caden Andersen, and Craig Alan Becker each chipped in two.
Drew Brown led the Cardinals with 11-points, Edgar Rodriquez 10, Adam Johnson 9, Michael Shull and Ethan McAndrews 4 points each, and Wyatt Schmitt chipped in 2.
Atlantic extends their record to 11-6 and hosts Denison-Schleswig in the regular season’s final game on Tuesday, February 16. The Trojans open up post-season play on Monday, February 22, at home against Creston.
Clarinda falls to 9-10 overall and hosts Underwood in a Class 2A first-round Substate game on Monday.
