Cyclones fall to Huskies at home
Coming off a tough 2-point loss Friday night, the HCHS Cyclones boys basketball team was hoping to return to the win column Monday night at home against the Winterset Huskies, but came out flat, losing 60-48.
“We knew this was going to be a real tough game, especially coming off Friday night,” said Cyclone Head Coach Mitch Osborn. “Very tough loss. We started off slow, but the kids rebounded back and we had a lead at half by a point, and the third quarter we were up 28-22, but that’s when they went on a 23-6 run, and that really hurt us.”
The Huskies offense got going immediately opening the game on an 11-2 run with the Cyclones first baskets coming from Senior Ben Leinen on free throws. Sophomore Colton Schneider was able to make a 3-point shot towards the end of the quarter, along with a layup from Senior Jozef Reisz, but the Huskies still led 13-7.
The Cyclone offense managed to turn a corner in the second quarter starting with a pass from Reisz to Junior Gabe Arkfeld, along with another layup from Reisz. The Cyclones then went on an 11-2 run with a layup from Sophomore Kobe Klaassen, a 3-pointer from Schneider, and another two layups from Reisz, followed by a 3-pointer from Junior Dallas McDowell giving the Cyclones their first lead of the game at 23-22 to close out the half.
“He [Reisz] was doing a great job posting up, getting wide, and attacking the rim,” Osborn said. “We only shot eight free throws. We’re playing zone. We had 15 fouls, and they [Winterset] have a very aggressive man-to-man defense.”
The Cyclones opened the third quarter on a 5-0 run with Jozef Reisz getting a layup, followed by a 3-pointer from Senior Weston Reisz. Following’s Weston shot, the Huskies offense went on a tear closing out the quarter on a 23-6 run leading 45-34 at the end of the third quarter.
The Cyclone offense got going in the fourth quarter starting with a layup from Klaassen and a mid-range jump shot from McDowell. Leinen and Reisz made back-to-back layups to cut the Huskies lead back to 10, but it wasn’t enough as the Cyclones lost by 12 for their 10th loss of the season.
“I thought our guys battled,” Osborn said. “We’re young and they’re doing the best they can do. Give Winterset credit. They’re in a very tough league. Our non-conference games are very, very tough.”
They will be back in action Friday against their rival, the 10-5 Lewis Central Titans, who have lost three consecutive games, most recently an 80-56 loss to the Kuemper Catholic Knights. The Titans are led by Freshman Carter Thielen averaging 15.3 points, Sophomore Charles Schaben averaging 6.2 rebounds, and Senior Parker Stessman averaging 3.4 assists per game. The last time the Cyclones played the Titans was Jan. 7 losing 56-44.
