(Harlan) Harlan jumped out to a fast start and defeated Atlantic 72-58 in a Hawkeye Ten Conference boys basketball game Tuesday night in Harlan.
Four Cyclones scored in double figures. Kobe Klaasen led the way with 20 points, while Kreed Boggess provided a spark off the bench with 17 points, including four three-pointers that accounted for 12 of his total. Colton Schneider and Dallas McDowell each added 13 points. Fox Argotsinger finished with six points, Gabe Arkfeld scored two, and Jake Wageman added one.
Gavin McLaren paced the Trojans with 28 points. Sawyer Tarrell added 11, Benny McLaren had nine, Kale Jensen scored eight, and Shelton Mualia chipped in two points.
Harlan closed the first quarter on a 14-2 surge to take a 20-8 lead and followed with an 18-12 advantage in the second period to build a 38-20 cushion at halftime. Kobe Klaasen paced the Cyclones with 12 first-half points, while Colton Schneider added eight. Gavin McLaren accounted for half of Atlantic’s scoring in the opening half with 10 of the Trojans’ 20 points.
Atlantic came out strong in the third quarter, using a 9-0 run to trim the deficit to 40-29. McLaren stayed hot, pouring in 13 of the Trojans’ 18 points in the period. Harlan answered with a 16-6 run of its own and carried a 56-36 lead into the final quarter.
Atlantic Head Coach Dalton Franken says the Trojans competed much better in the third quarter
Franken mentioned several players who put in some good performances despite the loss.
Atlantic outscored Harlan 22-16 in the fourth quarter, but the deficit proved too much to overcome as the Cyclones secured the 72-58 victory.
Harlan improves to 7-12 on the season and will wrap up the regular season at home against Carroll on February 17.
Atlantic drops to 5-14 and will host Lenox on Friday night before traveling to Denison on Tuesday, February 17, for its regular-season finale.
