(Atlantic) The Atlantic girls’ basketball team held off Harlan at the end 53-51, secured a Co-Hawkeye Ten Conference Title with an 8-2 Conference record and ended the regular season at 17-4.
Atlantic Head Coach Dan Vargason says this squad earned it; they have gone through the lows with the program and now get to experience the highs.
Maddie Richter splashed down a three-point shot to polish off a 6-0 run to end the first quarter with a 10-8 lead. Richter hit two more three-point attempts in the second quarter, and Paytn Harter knocked down two more from long-range, ended the first half on a 15-2 run, and opened a 31-17 lead at the break.
Harlan’s leading scoring, Aubrey Schwieso, sat most of the second quarter in foul trouble. However, the 5’8 sophomore point guard playing with three fouls came out in the second half and helped will her squad to 21 third-quarter points closing the gap to 43-38.
The Cyclones had a chance to knot the game on their last possession, on a layup, but the Trojans turned them away and sealed the victory, 53-51.
Paytn Harder led the Trojans in scoring with 15-points; Jada Jensen, 10; Maddie Huddleson, 9; Maddie Richter, 9; Aubrey Guyer, 8, and Claire Pellett knocked down two critical free throws late in the fourth quarter.
Aubrey Schwieso led the Cyclones with 25 points, Erica Rust, 8, Hannah Sonderman, 2, and Ava Munson scored 1.
Atlantic finishes the regular season with a 17-4 record and plays Clarinda in a Regional Quarterfinal on Saturday at Atlantic. We will have the broadcast on 95.7 F.M. The pre-game show starts at 6:40 p.m. The tip-off is at 7:00 p.m.
Harlan hosts Red Oak on Saturday. The winner of this game plays the winner of Atlantic-Clarinda on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in a Regional semi-final.
