Harlan ends Glenwood’s season in district semifinals


Glenwood’s Kayden Anderson fires a three-pointer in front of the Harlan fans in the district semifinals. Anderson finished with 13 points off the bench.

All five of Harlan’s starters scored in double figures as the Cyclones ended Glenwood’s season with a 77-63 Class 3A substate seminfinal victory Thursday night on the Rams’ home floor.

Harlan erased an early four-point deficit by taking 9-8 lead midway through the first quarter. It was a lead the Cyclones would never relinquish.

From the outset, Harlan was intent on getting the ball inside the paint, to forward Jace Gubbels and center Franz Reisz. The duo combined for 32 points and 14 rebounds.

“Our game plan was as soon as it went inside and it was within five feet, we’d dig hard down low and make them kick it out,” Glenwood Coach Curt Schulte said. “And when they did they shot it extremely well. They were knocking them down the from the arc. My hat’s tipped to them. They shot it well.”

The Cyclones finished 8-of-19 from behind the arc, including some three-pointers that came on second-chance opportunities.

Harlan led 16-11 after the first quarter but saw the Rams get back to within one point at 18-17 on a three-point basket by Kayden Anderson that barely beat the shot clock buzzer. After that, the Cyclones stretched their lead to seven points on a pair of buckets by Reisz and Gubbels.

A buzzer beater tip-in by Glenwood’s Risto Lappala at the end of the second quarter trimmed the Cyclone lead to 33-28 at halftime.

After Glenwood’s Zac Kelsey cut the Harlan lead 33-30 to start the third quarter, the Cyclones went on a 12-0 run to put some cushion between themselves and the Rams. A break-away lay-up by Jacob Birch put the Cyclones up 41-30 and a pair of free throws by Will

Arkfeld increased the margin to 45-30 just four minutes into the second half.

“We had good looks and high percentage shots that didn’t go,” Schulte said. “And we couldn’t close the gap in the second half.”

An inbound steal and subsequent follow-up by Anderson did trim the Harlan lead to 45-35 but the Rams would get no closer.

Payton Longmeyer gave Glenwood another tip-in buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter but the Cyclones continued to keep their foot on the gas pedal in the final frame, going ahead by as many as 17 points at 68-51.

The Cyclones spread out their offense to run time off the clock in the final minutes of the game while working to break defensive pressure being applied by the Rams. The Cyclones iced the game at the charity stripe where they knocked down nine of their final 10 free throw attempts.

Gubbels finished the night with a game-high 20 points. Teagon Kasperbauer chipped in 17 points for the Cyclones, while Birch, Arkfeld and Reisz finished the game with 15, 13 and 12 points respectively. The Cyclones shot 49 percent from the field, 42 percent from three-point range and sank 17-of-19 free throw attempts.

Caden Johnson led Glenwood with 17 points, three assists and four steals. Johnson was the only Ram to go to the free throw line, knocking down all four of his attempts. Anderson added 13 points off the bench and Risto Lappala chipped in 12. Logan Eckheart had a team-high seven rebounds and one blocked shot.

Glenwood shot 35 percent from the field and 28 percent from behind the arc.

With the win, the Cyclones improved their record to 17-5 on the season and advanced to a substate final matchup on Monday night against undefeated Bondurant-Farrar.

Glenwood ended its season with a 15-8 record. Six Glenwood seniors played their final game in a Ram uniform, including the five starters: Johnson, Gavin Schau, Lappala, Kelsey and Logyn Eckheart.
            
“This is a great senior group,” Schulte said. “They’re hard workers. They put a lot of time in during the offseason. They’re the first ones in the gym and some of the last ones to leave. They’re a class act and they’re definitely going to be missed.”

 

The Opinion-Tribune

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