Cyclones stymied by Lynx in battle of unbeatens

Abraham Lincoln holds HCHS to four points during key 15-minute stretch, wins 53-38

 HARLAN (Jan. 3) -- Harlan Community’s zone defense was good enough through three quarters Friday night to be competitive in almost any basketball game this season.
 Unfortunately for the Cyclones, they couldn’t score enough points to make it matter.
 Held in check by Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln’s rangy, quick and physical defenders, HCHS shot just 32.4 percent and posted a season-low point total in a non-conference battle of unbeatens, falling 53-38 to the 10th-ranked (4A) Lynx.
 The sixth-ranked (3A) Cyclones, now 6-1 overall, were outscored 9-8 in the first quarter, 16-5 in the second and 11-4 in the third before winning the fourth 21-17.
 Between Michael Erlemeier’s three-pointer that put Harlan up 11-9 early in the second and Johnathan Monson’s driving score with :01.3 left in the third, HCHS was outscored 27-4 during a critical stretch of 15 minutes-plus.
 Abraham Lincoln, led by sophomore Josh Dix’s 20 points, improved to 8-0 despite not having a senior on its roster.
 “They’re very very good. That’s the best team we’re going to play all year,” said HCHS coach Mitch Osborn. “I (scouted) them in person and you cannot simulate their physicality in practice with what we have... They shut off all the driving lanes, their defense was phenomenal. They switched all screens, which they hadn’t been doing this year but obviously they did with us because of what we do and they had a great defensive game plan.”
 The Cyclones’ lack of a true post player in the starting lineup proved costly for the first time this season as the Lynx took away almost everything Osborn’s squad likes to do. HCHS struggled to score on drives to the hoop due to AL’s length and the physical nature of the game. Drive and kick opportunities were limited - the Cyclones shot 3-of-13 from the three-point arc - and the Lynx also got back very well in transition to prevent easy layups.
 Cyclone senior Connor Bruck had the most success of anyone getting to the line and made all six of his free throws en route to scoring a team-high 10 points. Erlemeier finished with six points, Connor Frame and Isaiah Ahrenholtz scored five each (all in the fourth quarter) and Will McLaughlin added four.

 
 

 

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