Cold shooting bogs down HCHS boys in loss to Titans

 COUNCIL BLUFFS -- Getting up shots wasn’t a problem for the Harlan Community boys basketball team Tuesday night at Lewis Central.
 Selecting good shots and making them was another story.
 Struggling from start to finish to find the bottom of the net, HCHS came out of Christmas break by shooting 25 percent - 6-of-30 from three-point range, 9-of-30 on twos - in a 46-41 loss to the Titans that did not count in the Hawkeye Ten standings.
 The Cyclones (4-3 overall, 4-0 H-10) took an early 8-2 lead - partially the result of a slew of offensive rebounds - but were outscored 25-13 the rest of the first half.
 Down 27-21 at the break, HCHS led just once in the second half (34-33) following a lob inside to Connor Frame. LC scored the next seven points and HCHS was unable to mount a serious rally down the stretch.
 The Cyclones further hurt their cause by making only 5-of-13 free throws.
 “I was very disappointed. We (had) a good start... and then we just started chucking up shots,” said HCHS head coach Mitch Osborn. “We were shooting quick shots, and not good shots.
 “I am just shocked we came out and functioned like this offensively because we had such a great Christmas break and looked so good.”
 Lewis Central (3-5, 1-3 H-10) didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard either, but did shoot 45.7 percent from the field and won despite taking 25 fewer shots (60-35) than HCHS.
 The physical nature of the game - a lot of contact was allowed on both ends - also seemed to favor the Titans. Burly forward Wyatt Hatcher led the team with 13 points and Devin Nailor hit 4-of-6 three-pointers and scored 12 points after entering the night 1-of-7 from long range.
 Will McLaughlin’s banked-in three from the top of the key pulled the Cyclones within 44-41 with 1:15 to go but they would not score again, missing two free throws and some long-range shots.
 McLaughlin led HCHS with 12 points, eight boards and two blocked shots while Frame had 10 points and four rebounds.
 Jacob Birch (two treys) and Brad Curren (one trey, two free throws) rallied the Cyclones in the third by combining to score all 11 of the team’s points. Curren finished with seven points and three assists and Birch had six points off the bench.