Cyclone girls’ win marred by injury

 ATLANTIC (Jan. 30) -- The Harlan Community girls basketball team earned a much-needed win on Tuesday night, but may have also suffered a tough loss in the process.
 Pulling away behind an 18-2 second-quarter spurt, the Cyclones held Atlantic below 20 points for much of the first three quarters and completed a season sweep of the Trojans, 63-39, to snap a four-game slide.
 Unfortunately, there was also bad news as freshman point guard Brecken Van Baale left the game with a knee injury in the third quarter and did not return. HCHS coach Zach Klaassen expected to learn the extent of Van Baale’s injury on Thursday.
 “Winning is always fun but losing Brecken was tough,” Klaassen said. “You just hate to see kids get hurt, especially when they play so hard and put all they have into the game.”
 Senior forward Nicole Lange had her best game of the season for the Cyclones, matching her career high with 25 points on an 11-of-17 shooting night and also leading the team with nine rebounds and four assists. Freshman Macie Leinen also reached double figures with 13 points (4 rebounds, 2 blocks) and Lexi Larsen had six points, six boards and four steals.
 Klaassen was pleased with his team’s 16 offensive rebounds (five by Lange) as well as its ability to run the floor successfully.