Creston snaps four-game skid against Red Oak

RED OAK – Creston girls basketball (9-3) took down Red Oak 58-29 Monday, snapping a four-game losing streak against the Tigers.

Red Oak (1-6) ended the now-Class 4A No. 12 Panthers’ playoff run last season in the Regional Final.

“It felt good. They knocked us out last year, so it was a good win,” Creston head coach Tony Neubauer said. “On defense we played pretty well. Offensively, we need to do a better job getting in our break and other things. Overall, a Hawkeye 10 win on the road is always a good thing.”

The Tigers started out with a quick lead, going up 7-4 before Creston started to settle into the game. The Panthers struggled to find the bottom of the net early on in the game.

“Offensively, I think we’re (second) in the state in field goal percentage (51.5%), and we didn’t shoot the ball particularly well,” Neubauer said. “We had a hard time getting the ball in the basket. We only made one three. It was one of those nights where we grinded it out with our defense.”

After trailing early, Creston took the lead in the first quarter and never looked back as the defense propelled the offense. The Panthers, leading 15-7 after the first quarter, held Red Oak at seven points for nearly eight minutes, stretching from the end of the first quarter to near the end back end of the second quarter.

“Defensively, we did phenomenal. We just had a hard time putting the ball in the basket,” Neubauer said. “That happens sometimes. Defense will carry you.”

Creston’s lead ballooned with Sam Dunphy leading the way. She scored 16 points on the night. Bri Fields was close behind with 13 of her own.

Neubauer said the team needs to work on avoiding getting stuck on one side of the offense and the lazy passes, which led to turnovers. The Panthers had 174 turnovers entering Monday.

With no games until Lewis Central Friday, the Panthers will take the rest of the week to “clean the little things up” as the Titans pose the next conference battle. Tip off is set for 6 p.m.

Creston has lost 17 consecutive games to Lewis Central, never beating the Titans in the Varsity Bound era, which dates back to 2008.

Creston 58, Red Oak 29

CRESTON (58) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 26 5-7 58. Sam Dunphy 8 0-0 16, Bri Fields 5 2-2 13, Kelsey Feilds 6 0-2 12, Doryn Paup 4 1-1 9, Braelyn Baker 1 2-2 4, Rylie Driskell 1 0-0 2, Morgan Driskell 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals — 1 (Bri Fields). Team fouls – 4. Fouled out — None.

RED OAK (29) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 13 1-1 29. Abbey Jones 4 1-1 10, Lexi Johnson 2 0-0 4, Payten Bass 2 0-0 4, Lainey DeVries 2 0-0 4, Chloe DeVries 1 0-0 3, Lennon ONeal 1 0-0 2, Macy Bozwell 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals — 2 (Chloe DeVries 1, Abbey Jones 1). Team fouls — 11. Fouled out — None.