For a couple of quarters Friday, it was tempting to think Creston girls were not going to let Harlan run away with the game.
But the second half ended those thoughts as Harlan pulled away in an 83-53 win.
“They are a really good team. But we played really well in the first half,” said Creston coach Tony Neubauer. “They beat us inside.”
Harlan came to town with a 13-2 record, compared to Creston’s 4-12. The Panthers were not letting their record show.
Creston managed to build a 10-7 lead more than two minutes into the game with Hollynn Rieck scoring the 10th point. Harlan’s height advantage over Creston showed at times as the Cyclones took the lead at 11-10 with 1:35 left in the quarter. Creston managed to keep it close.
“The effort is exactly what I wanted,” he said.
Harlan continued to develop its offense in the second quarter, but Creston refused to let them have a lead greater than five points. Panther Kadley Bailey made four consecutive free throws on consecutive possessions to tie the score at 17. Ella Turner then added her own free throws to give Creston a 19-17 lead at the 5:56 mark.
Creston and Harlan would trade baskets until Ava Adamson gave Creston a 23-21 lead with free throws at the 4:19 mark. It would be the last time Creston had an advantage as Harlan scored six straight points before the quarter ended. Harlan was up 30-25 at half.
The ability to stay close with Harlan faded in the third quarter. Harlan extended is lead to 36-25 a minute and half into the quarter before Creston called timeout. The timeout did not stop Harlan as it continued to score. Creston’s first points in the second half were not until Brynn Tussey’s basket with 3:41 left in the quarter.
“We have to figure out man defense,” Neubauer said about his team playing against that strategy. “We got to keep getting better.”
Neubauer said that part of the game showed the difference between the two teams as Harlan had a height and experience advantage. Creston has been hampered by injuries this year and Turner went out in the half with an injury.
Harlan continued dominating scoring in the third and fourth quarters.
Kadley Bailey led Creston with 14 points from 3-11 shooting and made all eight of her free throw attempts. Bailey also had three assists.
Rieck was right behind her with 12 points from 4-7 shooting, including 2-3 from the 3-point line and two free throws. Turner finished with nine.
Tussey had a team high eight rebounds. Turner finished with seven.
As a team, Creston shot 16-5-53 from the field including 2-20 from the 3-point line. Creston made 21 of 25 free throws and had 23 turnovers.
Harlan was 30-65 shooting including 8-20 from the 3-point line. The Cyclones were 15-21 from the free throw line and had 49 rebounds to Creston’s 31. Harlan had 19 turnovers.
Creston (4-12) played Clarke Monday in Creston. The Panther girls play two more at home this week; 6 p.m. Thursday vs. Earlham and 6 p.m. Friday vs. Red Oak.