HCHS girls rally past Monarchs

 DENISON (Jan. 28) -- In a game dictated by defense, Harlan Community outscored the Denison-Schleswig girls 12-3 in Tuesday’s fourth quarter to beat the Monarchs 37-33 and earn a split of the season series.
 HCHS avenged an earlier one-point loss to Denison and won for the fourth time in five games - all in a span of nine days. Both teams are now 8-8 overall.
 “Our delay game was good and we made free throws when we needed them down the stretch,” stated HCHS coach Zach Klaassen, noting that junior guard Brecken Van Baale scored all eight of her points in the fourth quarter.
 The Cyclones jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the opening three minutes but were outscored 22-10 the rest of the first half and trailed 30-25 entering the fourth. Van Baale’s go-ahead three-pointer made it 33-32 and she later added two free throws to stretch the lead.
 Denison made just three field goals in a nine-point second half, shooting 22.2 percent (8-of-36) for the game. HCHS made 11-of-38 field goals for 29 percent.
 Claire Schmitz and Ashley Hall carried the Cyclones on offense for three quarters and finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Hall added six rebounds and five assists while Schmitz had five boards and two blocks.
 D-S junior Paige Andersen hit a pair of treys and led all players with 15 points and 14 rebounds.