Cyclone girls handle Atlantic in 2018 debut

    HARLAN (Jan. 2) -- The Harlan Community girls basketball team started 2018 on a good note here Tuesday night, using a big second quarter and a solid defensive effort to beat Atlantic 48-29.
    It was the first win in three weeks for the Cyclone girls, who lost their final two games prior to the holiday break. They improved to 3-4 overall and 3-2 in Hawkeye Ten Conference play, while the Trojans slipped to 1-9 and 0-4, respectively.
    “Our defense was good again tonight and I thought our offense was OK,” said HCHS coach Zach Klaassen. “That first game back from break is always a little sloppy and when you don’t have school on game day it is different as well. I think that our offense will continue to move in the right direction.”
    Senior Nicole Lange (14 points) and junior Anna Ahrenholtz (13 points) led the offensive charge for HCHS, shooting a combined 11-for-20 from the field with Lange hitting her only three-point attempt. Senior Lexie Holloway added a pair of treys and finished with eight points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals.
    The Cyclones led just 9-7 after one quarter before outscoring Atlantic 17-5 in the second to build a 26-12 halftime advantage.