Cyclone BKB Can’t Slow Down Kuemper Catholic; Drops DH

Cyclone BKB Can’t Slow Down Kuemper Catholic; Drops DH -

(1-19-26) – It was a couple of rough outings at the Palace on Monday.

A slow first half put the Harlan Community girls’ basketball team in a hole they couldn’t recover from as they fell to the Knights, 56-46.

After getting a pair of field goals from Avery Manz in the early moments of the game, the Cyclones went ice cold from the floor, finishing 2 for 27 in the 1st half. Meanwhile, Knights found the range from beyond the arc, nailing eight 3-ptrs taking a 20 pt lead into halftime.

Harlan Community played much better in the 2nd half, cutting their deficit to single digits in the 4th qtr and shooting 44 percent from the floor. But it wouldn’t be enough to get back into the game.

Coach Zach Klaassen would like to see his team push the ball harder down the floor.

“We got to get more aggressive,” said Klaassen after the game. “That Glenwood game (last Tuesday), we got aggressive. We attacked the hoop. We kicked for open threes. We fed the ball inside. We got to the rim, got layups, you know, and I thought it looked more like that, but I just don't understand why we can't do that for two halves.”

The Cyclones got Kensley Bruck had 15 pts, 14 in the 2nd half. Klaassen said a slight adjustment for Bruck was the difference.

“Well, she squared up. That first half she was getting about 3/4. She wasn't getting her hips square in the hoop and we talked about it a little bit. Second-half she got squared up. She did a Sikma step, which we haven't seen in a game for quite a while, which is good to see.”

Avery Manz had a double-double with 14 pts and 10 rebounds. Klaassen likes the confidence Manz has been showing in recent games.

“I feel like she's getting more aggressive. You know, you saw her tonight. She's getting down in the paint, you know, driving, not just settling for threes anymore.”

Kuemper Catholic had 12 pts each from Kaylie Simons and Elsa Tiefenthaler.

The boys’ contest, the 3rd-ranked Knights rolled as the Cyclones lost 88-45. Kuemper Catholic used their run-and-gun style to open an 18-pt 1st qtr lead. Harlan Community got terrific minutes from Dallas McDowell, especially in the 2nd qtr, but just couldn’t slow down the Knights offense.

Cyclone Coach Dean Mosher was proud of how his team played against such a solid opponent.

“Effort's always there. That's nothing I have to ever question. So I was proud of him in that aspect. Never gave up, kept fighting.”

McDowell had 20 pts for Harlan Community, who’s now lost 6 of its last 7 games. Mosher is seeing some things from his team at the midway point of the season, despite being 4-7 on the season.

“The trust is coming and with the movement we're trying to incorporate, the trust is so important. So we're just getting used to having kind of some different roles and different motions. But it's coming around and little by little, it's having some good improvement.”

Kuemper Catholic got 22 pts and 12 boards from Ryan Clair while Griffin Glynn had 20 pts.

Harlan Community will travel to face Blair, NE in a doubleheader this evening.

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