Trojans hand HCHS boys conference loss

 ATLANTIC (Jan. 21) -- In a first half featuring two ties and 10 lead changes, the Harlan Community boys finished on a 9-0 run to take a 32-31 lead and momentum to the locker room in Atlantic.
 Unfortunately for the Cyclones, the second half was all Trojans.
 Atlantic outscored HCHS 17-5 in the third quarter - scoring the first six and the last eight points - and led by double digits for all but a few moments of the fourth to win Thursday’s Hawkeye Ten Conference game 63-47.
 The Trojans got back to .500 overall (5-5) while improving their league record to 4-1. The Cyclones, who failed to reach 50 points for the fourth time in five games since the holiday break, fell to 5-6 and 5-2, respectively.
 Once again, a lackluster shooting night from three-point range (5-of-19) was compounded by a bundle of missed shots from inside, particularly in the second half when HCHS was outscored 32-15.
 Cyclone head coach Mitch Osborn noted that the team missed 12 shots within five feet of the basket. They shot 34 percent overall.
 “Our sets that we ran the third quarter (were) really good because we got great looks. Unfortunately, it seemed like there was a lid on the darn basket,” Osborn said.
 “It’s just a matter of finishing and making shots... We’re seeing a lot of zone [defense]. We hit some threes tonight, but (by) the same token even when they played zone we got great looks. It’s just a matter of shots going in and getting some confidence. Right not it’s tough but nobody feels sorry for you. We’ve just got to keep grinding. Our guys are doing everything we want in practice. We had great effort. We played hard.”
 Atlantic, though, seemed to play harder for longer stretches and with a little more fire and energy. Osborn was most disappointed with the first four minutes of the third quarter.
 “You’ve got to win the first four minutes,” he said.
 “Start of the third quarter it’s very upsetting that we (didn’t) come out with fire burning out of our ears... and (we were) lackadaisical on defense.”
 Atlantic senior Skyler Handlos, who scored 28 points in an overtime substate quarterfinal loss to Harlan last year, led the Trojans with 26 on Thursday and grabbed nine rebounds. Handlos knocked down 5-of-11 three-pointers and also worked free for some drives to the basket.
 Six-foot-six senior Garrett Reynolds achieved a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds while also altering a number of Cyclone shots. Dayton Templeton had a nice game as well with 12 points, five boards, five assists and two blocks.
 “We had some breakdowns defensively,” Osborn said. “Handlos obviously created [problems]. He had a game just like he did in districts against us last year. He was red hot from threes and then we go (man-to-man) and he can put (it) on the floor.
 “Even when we were in 2-3 zone we had breakdowns where we’ve got Handlos on the baseline and left him run. We’ve got to correct that.”
 Connor Frame led HCHS with 14 points, including an athletic three-point play at the rim just before halftime and a fourth-quarter dunk that pulled the Cyclones within 48-40.
 Atlantic quickly regained control as Reynolds scored two straight buckets and Ethan Sturm rolled in a trey. The Trojans ran off some clock down the stretch and took care of the basketball to preserve their lead.
 Single-digit scorers for HCHS included Brad Curren with eight points, Aidan Hall and Brayton Schechinger with six each and Teagon Kasperbauer and Will McLaughlin both with five.
 Schechinger sparked the Cyclones’ 9-0 run going into halftime with a pair of three-pointers. He also led the team with two steals.
 “Brayton Schechinger was a big boost to us,” said Osborn. “He played really really well in his (most extensive) varsity action, and he deserved it. He’s been practicing well, playing well in JV and he stepped up.
 “Teagon gave us a little boost (and) Connor obviously got us charged up.”
 McLaughlin led HCHS with eight rebounds and Hall added seven, but the Cyclones finished minus-14 on the boards. Turnovers were about even: seven for HCHS and eight for Atlantic.
 Thursday’s game was the Cyclones’ first in nine days.