Free throw disparity carries Rams past Cyclones

 GLENWOOD (Jan. 13) -- In a high-scoring matchup of top-10, Class 3A boys basketball teams Saturday night, free throws proved to be the big difference maker as second-ranked Glenwood held off No. 7 Harlan Community 84-79.
 Both sides shot just under 60 percent from the field and the Cyclones hit twice as many 3-pointers as the Rams (14 to 7), but Glenwood’s 27-9 advantage at the charity stripe loomed large in this Hawkeye Ten Conference battle for first place.
 The host Rams finished 27-of-36 at the free throw line, including several makes down the stretch, while HCHS went 9-of-17.
 Glenwood established a 25-20 lead after one quarter and never trailed the rest of the way, getting a combined 54 points from senior standouts Andrew Blum (29 points) and Nate Mohr (25). The Rams expanded their lead to 46-39 at the half and 65-54 at the end of three, leading by double digits for much of the fourth period before Harlan made a late run.
 Glenwood improved to 11-1 overall and 5-1 in conference play while HCHS fell to 9-2 overall and 5-2 in the H-10.
 Shane Chamberlain and Logan Klaassen led the Cyclones with 19 points each, Deren Schmitz scored 15 and Jacob Hansen added 12. Led by Schmitz’s 5-of-7 shooting from three-point range, those four players combined to drain 13-of-22 treys while the team was 14-of-26.