(Harlan) Three players scored in double figures, leading Harlan to a 44-32 win over Atlantic in a girl’s Hawkeye Ten Conference basketball game at Harlan on Friday night.
Aubrey Schwieso led the Cyclones with 16 points, Addison Wicks finished with 11, and Grace Albertson added 10.
It was a bittersweet loss for the Trojans. Atlantic senior Paytn Harter led her team with 14 points and set a new career scoring record in Atlantic girls’ basketball with 1,261 points. Harter broke the previous record of 1,259 points held by Haley Rasmussen, a senior player at Simpson College who is a two-time all-conference performer. The other scorers for Atlantic were Makenna Schroeder, who buried three shots from beyond the arc for nine points; Zoey Kirchhoff, Peyton McLaren, and Katrina Williams pitched in three points apiece.
Makenna Schroeder started the game strong for Atlantic with a three-pointer, giving her team an early lead. However, Aubrey Schwieso quickly responded with a long-range shot, leveling the score at 3-3. After breaking a 5-5 tie, the Cyclones took control and maintained their lead throughout the game, finishing with quarter scores of 15-8, 21-10, 31-22, and ultimately sealing the victory at 44-32. The Trojans cut the game close in the second half. Atlantic Head Coach Dan Vargason made an offensive adjustment at the break, switching Wiederstein from outside to inside and 5’11 forward Paytn Harter from inside to an outside shooter. Harter came through with two three-point shots, Schroeder drained two, Zoey Kirchhoff netted another, and the Trojans narrowed the gap to 23-20.
The Cyclones answered the bell. Reserve guard Addison Wicks came off the bench and sparked Harlan’s Offense with a trio of three-point baskets and a field goal to score 11 points.
Harlan’s record is 9-3 on the season, and it travels to Kuemper on Monday. The loss breaks the Trojans’ four-game winning streak. The Trojans host Red Oak on Tuesday.
Comments from Paytn Harter and Head Coach Dan Vargason are posted below:
