Cyclones tame Tigers, clinch fourth state trip in a row
HARLAN -- From a game-opening 15-1 run to its mild-mannered victory celebration, the Harlan Community girls basketball team was all business Tuesday night in a 55-32, Class 4-A regional final win over Spencer.
But as the third-ranked Cyclones prepare to chase a championship three-peat in their fourth consecutive state tourney appearance, one gets the feeling that this team has yet to reach its pinnacle performance level.
If they get there, it could be a scary proposition for the rest of the 4-A state field. This year’s bracket includes top-ranked and unbeaten Western Dubuque - twice the state runner-up to HCHS - and second-ranked Lewis Central (20-1), which split its two-game season series vs. the Cyclones.
The 4-A quarterfinals start Tuesday night and finish with Wednesday’s 11:45 a.m. tip between HCHS (20-2) and seventh-ranked Marion (19-4) at Wells Fargo Arena. The 4-A semifinals have been moved to Friday morning this year, with the championship game set for Saturday night.