Glenwood wins at the buzzer


Kayden Anderson, shown here driving for a layup against Harlan, hit the game-winning three-pointer for Glenwood in Friday’s 46-45 win.

Kayden Anderson’s only points on the night couldn’t have come at a better time.

The sophomore reserve hit a three-pointer at the buzzer Friday to give Glenwood a 46-45 victory at Creston.

After nearly four quarters of a defensive battle that saw both teams struggled to put the ball in the basket at times, the Rams found themselves down 43-45 with less than 10 seconds left.

Glenwood coach Curt Schulte used a timeout to plot an isolation play that would have Anderson in the corner for a possible open look but Creston forced the Rams out of the set and the sophomore found himself at the top of the key where he knocked down the game-winner as time expired.

“It was a huge three,” Schulte said. “They made us have to scramble a little but and go to plan B but he got open at about 22 feet and knocked it in.”

The Rams had a bumpy night offensively. They shot just 29.4 percent (15-of-51), made just 9-of-20 free throws and turned it over 18 times.

But Schulte said his team was sharp on defense all night and out-rebounded the Panthers 44-31, with 18 of the Rams’ rebounds coming on the offensive glass.

“It was a defensive game,” Schulte said. “They played outstanding defense and I felt our defense was really good. We just didn’t shoot it well and we missed more free throws than we have all year. So it wasn’t a great shooting night but we really good on defensively and we rebounded.”

Caden Johnson and Tommy Johnson scored 10 points each to lead the Rams.
    
Harlan 71,
Glenwood 49

To say Glenwood’s offense struggled against Harlan might be an understatement.

The Rams shot a season-low 27.6 percent, scored a season-low in points, were out-rebounded 47-27 and never found their rhythm on the offensive end in a 71-49 loss to Harlan in Hawkeye 10 Conference boys basketball.

Glenwood coach Curt Schulte said his team’s lack of success on offense trickled down into other areas for the Rams.

“They are a very good defensive team,” Schulte said of the 5-0 Cyclones. “They switched a lot of screens on us. We didn’t shoot the ball very well tonight. Typically we’re a much better shooting team and we just couldn’t get things to go and sometimes when you’re not shooting the ball very well it leaks to your defense also.

“We had defensive breakdowns which we normally don’t have. I think we’re a very good defensive team and tonight we had too many breakdowns.”

The Cyclones took advantage of those breakdowns early, leading 21-11 after the opening quarter they extended that lead to 18 points midway through the third quarter.

That’s when Glenwood made their move.

The Rams’ 8-0 run, capped by Caden Johnson’s layup with 2:02 in third, cut the lead to as closest it’d been since early in the second quarter at 35-45.

But Harlan responded with and 8-0 run of their own to close the quarter and led 53-35 heading into the fourth.

The Cyclones’ answer was big, Schulte said.

“Our goal was to chip away in the third quarter,” he said. “We felt if we could get it to six going into the fourth quarter we had a good chance and we were close. And they went on that big run and it was tough to bounce back after that.”

Harlan coach Mitch Osborn knew the Rams would make a run.

“I thought the kids did a great job. But Glenwood’s never going to quit. We had that little burst right at the end of that third quarter, I think we got the lead there and boosted up to I think 18. But they’re not going to quit and they come back, get it to 14, get it to 12, you just have to fight them off. But it was a good solid win.”

The 22-point loss was the worst for the Rams since falling 76-46 to eventual Nebraska state champion Omaha Skutt Catholic back on Feb. 11, 2020.

“They’re very solid,” Schulte said of the Cyclones. “They’ve got good shooters, they’re strong inside, they’re a very good defensive team. My hat is tipped to them.”

Johnson paced Glenwood with 15 points. Zac Kelsey and Logyn Eckheart each chipped in nine.

Bradley Curren led the Cyclones with 19 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Connor Frame added 18 points.

 

The Opinion-Tribune

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