(Atlantic) A strong finish propelled Atlantic to a 72–60 victory over Red Oak in a Hawkeye Ten Conference boys basketball game Tuesday night in Atlantic.
Freshman Benton McLaren poured in a game-high 28 points to lead the Trojans to a season-best 72-point outing. McLaren knocked down five three-pointers, added six two-point field goals, and went 1-of-2 from the free-throw line. Gavin McLaren contributed 19 points, while Kale Jensen scored 11. Sawyer Tarrell added 7, Gage Gross had 3, and Hudson McLaren and Corbin Ritter finished with 2 points apiece.
Red Oak was led by Reese Montgomery with 22 points, followed by Carson Roeder with 14 and Dillion Rydberg with 12. A.J. Beeson scored 7, Weston Couse had 3, and Masen Fisher added 2.
The Tigers held a slim advantage throughout much of the first quarter, which featured four lead changes. Beeson, Rydberg, and Montgomery each connected from beyond the arc. Benton McLaren came off the bench to spark Atlantic with two three-pointers and a layup, keeping the Trojans within one at 16–14 at the end of the period.
The second quarter mirrored the opening frame with six lead changes and two ties. Atlantic finally broke a 21–21 deadlock and maintained the edge the rest of the quarter, taking a 34–30 lead into halftime.
Red Oak tied the game at 34–34 early in the third quarter, but Atlantic responded with a 9–0 run to take a 43–34 lead midway through the period. The Trojans carried a 52–45 advantage into the fourth quarter, fueled by 11 third-quarter points from Benton McLaren.
Montgomery scored eight points in the fourth quarter and helped pull the Tigers within three at 63–60 late in the game. After an Atlantic timeout, the Trojans closed the contest with a decisive 9–0 run to secure the 72–60 win.
The victory snapped an eight-game losing streak for Atlantic, which improves to 3–10 and travels to Osceola to face Clarke Community on Thursday. Red Oak falls to 5–9 and will host Glenwood on Friday.
