Cyclones switch to zone, beat Titans

 HARLAN -- A change in defensive strategy produced the same winning result for Harlan Community Friday night as the Cyclone boys beat Lewis Central, 55-39, to move to 5-0 on the season.
 Facing a big and physical Titan lineup that includes two Division I football recruits in JB Baker (6-8, 260) and Mitchell Brinkman (6-3, 235), HCHS played a 2-3 zone and used a fullcourt press to help force 22 LC turnovers.
 Baker, who has committed to play football at Wyoming, and Brinkman (committed to Northern Illinois) combined to score just seven points after averaging nearly 19 per game (combined) entering Friday.
 The third-ranked (Class 3-A) Cyclones outscored the Titans 16-5 in the second quarter to open up a 32-18 halftime lead and were able to hold off Lewis Central the rest of the way.
 HCHS improved to 3-0 in Hawkeye Ten Conference play, tied with Glenwood (4-0) and Atlantic (3-0) for first place. The Trojans defeated the Rams 57-48 in a non-conference game last Tuesday. LC dropped to 3-4 overall and 3-2 in the Hawkeye Ten.