Slow starts hamper HCHS boys in loss to Trojans

    ATLANTIC (Jan. 2) -- Harlan Community’s first road game of the season also resulted in its first defeat here Tuesday night as the Cyclone boys struggled at the start of each half and suffered a 66-52 loss to Atlantic.
    HCHS stayed in the game by hitting 11-of-27 three-pointers but the host Trojans shot 55.6 percent overall, turned the ball over just five times and finished plus 14 in rebounds (29-15).
    Tied for sixth in the latest Associated Press Class 3A rankings (released Dec. 26), the Cyclones dropped to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the Hawkeye Ten Conference. Atlantic, whose record includes road losses to state-ranked foes St. Albert, Glenwood and Kuemper, improved to 5-4 overall and 3-1 in H-10 counting games.
    “I was very concerned about this being our first game on the road, plus I thought we had a couple of poor practices over the break when we usually step up,” stated HCHS head coach Mitch Osborn. “We will need to learn from this and move forward as the schedule does not get any easier with St. Albert, Kuemper and Glenwood all on the horizon.”
    HCHS fell behind 20-5 early and trailed 23-11 after one quarter before using a 22-5 run to take its only lead of the night at 27-25. Atlantic responded with a 9-3 spurt to end the half, however, and outscored the Cyclones 16-10 in the third quarter and 16-12 in the fourth.

HCHS Scoring Leaders: Logan Klaassen 15 (5 treys), Shane Chamberlain 13. Atlantic Scoring Leaders: Austin Alexander 17, Scott Leonard 16, Jaxson Eden 11.