(Harlan, IA) — The girls game was one sided but a Cyclone got a big milestone — the boys game went down to the wire and was won on a last second buzzer beater.
The first game was over before it started but there was a little drama — Aubrey Schweiso was four points away from scoring 1,000 in her high school career and she ended the drama in the first few minutes. Schweiso hit a three to open the game and after a couple of misses, she got another three to put her over the top. Grace Albertsen would lead Harlan (15-3) with 22 points, Schweiso had 18, Kenzley Bruck 15 and Molly Swensen 10. Kadley Bailey had 12 points to lead Creston (6-12).
Post Game interview with Schweiso
The boys game was back and forth — Creston led 21-20 at the half but their leading scorer Jake Hoyt was battling foul trouble and he picked up his 4th personal foul early in the third quarter. The Cyclones slowed the game down and Dallas McDowell hit a couple of threes early and Kobe Klassen got room inside for 6 points and Harlan built a 37-27 lead through three quarters.
In the fourth, Harlan would lead by 9 with five minutes left but Creston switched to a 1-3-1 zone defense and Harlan got caught with a turnover bug. Hoyt was back in the game and split a double team for a lay-up to start the comeback. After a Cyclone miss, Hoyt got another lay-up. After a Harlan turnover, Josh Schaefer got a transition lay-up. Another turnover and another layup this time from a Brayden Schoon. The Panthers forced a third turnover in a row and Hoyt gave Creston a 44-43 lead with 2:28 left.
The Cyclones finally settled down and McDowell would end the 10-0 run with a three pointer to regain the lead 46-44 with 1:44 left. Once again, Creston got it to Hoyt who hit a turnaround jumper on the baseline with 2 seconds left on shot clock to tie the game at 46-46.
Harlan tried to break the tie but Ben Leinen had his shot blocked with 35 seconds left and the Panthers called timeout. They gave it to Hoyt and his shot hit the side of the backboard but he followed it up, got the rebound but missed the put back. It did hit the rim with less than a second on the shot clock and Harlan deflected it out of bounds with 1.7 seconds left. After a timeout, Schaefer inbounded the ball to Brayden Schoon who snuck in under the basket and laid it in at the buzzer for the game winning shot.
Hoyt led Creston (8-8) with 19 points, 13 in the 4th quarter. Schoon had 6 points all in the 4th quarter. Harlan (6-9) was led by Dallas McDowell with 25 points and Kobe Klassen added 14.
