March 28, 2024

Hawk boys open at 1-1, girls win two

SULLY — Lynnville-Sully’s Hawk basketball teams were on the road last Friday and Saturday. The Hawk girls are “veterans” in the young 2013-14 season but it was season-opening weekend for the Hawk boys.

Lynnville-Sully’s boys came up short in their opener Friday night at Keota. The Eagles snagged a 54-51 victory over the visiting Hawks. Lynnville-Sully regrouped to mark one up in the win column, 64-35, over host Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Saturday.

The Lynnville-Sully girls improved to 4-0 on the season with a 42-35 win at Keota Friday and pulled out a 51-50 victory over Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Saturday.

Lynnville-Sully’s squads hit the road again tonight to play at H-L-V. Friday, the Hawk teams are at home in Sully against Belle Plaine.

At Keota, the L-S boys were up 25-22 at halftime. The margin was two points, 37-35, with the Hawks still in front after three quarters. Keota’s Eagles outscored the Hawk boys 19-14 in the final eight minutes to win.

“We were disappointed with the outcome but felt we did some positive things that we can build on,” said Nick Harthoorn, Hawk boys’ head coach. “The boys competed hard. We got into some foul trouble early on in the game. We have to play smarter and adjust to the way the game is being called.”

Leading the way for the Hawks was T.J. Cunningham, who fired in 16 points followed by Darin Hofer with 13 points. Kyle Van Dyke scored 11 points for Lynnville-Sully.

Cunningham, Van Dyke and Hofer each had six rebounds. Ben Trettin dished out three assists and made three steals.

Keota was paced by Nate Owens with 18 points. Kolton Greiner and Luke Lyle scored 16 points apiece.

The Hawk boys gained the edge over the EBF Rockets in the middle quarters Saturday. They led 18-12 at the end of one quarter. Over the next two quarters, the Hawks outscored the Rockets 32-11 enroute to the 64-35 win.

“Eddyville got off to a quick start offensively, but after we settled in, the guys played great defense. We did a nice job of attacking the basket offensively and we were able to hurt them on the boards,” Harthoorn said.

Cunningham poured in 18 points. Van Dyke had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, plus blocked three shots. Hofer grabbed nine rebounds. Trettin and Jake Brand each had three assists. Brand had four of the team’s 16 steals.

Peyton Walker and Trevor Swartz each scored nine points for the Rockets.

Lynnville-Sully girls’  head coach Jerry Hulsing called the 42-35 victory over Keota Friday a good team win. He said every girl who played contributed in some way.

The Hawk girls, who are ranked fourth in Class 1A, were up 19-16 at halftime but never could shake the Keota Eagles. Lynnville-Sully used a 13-8 run in the fourth quarter to stretch it to the final margin.

Lyndsay Terpstra paced the Hawks with 10 points. Lysandra James added seven points and pulled down eight rebounds. Madison Rasmusson dished out three assists, stole the ball four times and scored five points.

Kelsi Sieren led Keota with 11 points and eight rebounds.

“The girls did a good job of talking on defense and making Keota to have to work to get a good look. When they missed we did a good job of rebounding the ball. I was happy with how we handled Keota’s press we broke it will little trouble. Again the girls really showed some composer down the stretch,” Hulsing said.

Against Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, the Hawk girls appeared to have the game under control by halftime, leading 34-17. The Rockets zoomed right back in the contest with a 23-6 scoring edge in the third quarter.

“This game was a tale of two halves,” Hulsing said. “The first half we played as well as we have played all season. Our defense was sharp not letting EB get anything going on offense. Our offense was sharp as we attacked when needed to but were patient when didn’t have numbers.

“In the third quarter we came out flat and didn’t match EB’s intensity. But the girls pulled it together and we made some key play to get back into the game, hit a couple big free throws on an otherwise poor free throw shooting night.”

The teams combined for 64 free throw attempts in the game. Lynnville-Sully cashed in 19-of-39 from the free-throw line while Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont went 16 -of-25.

James scored 16 points and had six rebounds. Rasmusson chipped in 13 points and made four assists. Jade Van Rees and Rachel Van Wyk each controlled six rebounds. Van Rees made four steals. Beeca Vos had four assists and six steals.

The Rockets got 24 points from Tasha Alexander. Karlie Taylor added 11 points and 10 rebounds.