Harlan boys survive upset bid

Everything was shaping up for a big upset Friday night for the Creston boys basketball team.

Knocking off the No. 3-ranked Harlan Cyclones would erase some of the sting of so many recent narrow defeats — seven by four points or less going into Friday’s home game, including two in the preceding four days.

Ethan Crawford led a good outside shooting night for the Panthers with five of his team’s nine 3-pointers, and the defense was containing Harlan’s relentless driving attack for much of the night. Creston, buoyed by a strong Friday night home crowd, took a 47-41 lead midway through the third quarter.

But, in the end, the league-leading Cyclones had just enough firepower down the stretch to prevail, 67-63. The game was in doubt until Creston, trailing by three points, missed a tying-3-pointer with 10 seconds left as well as the follow-up putback attempt off the miss.

Harlan rebounded the ball and converted one of two final free throws — outscoring Creston 13-4 at the line — to hang on and improve to 12-2 overall and 9-0 in the Hawkeye Ten Conference. Creston, which dropped three losses during the week by a total of nine points, fell to 6-9 overall and 3-6 in league play.

Creston coach Bryce Schafer said it was his team’s best shooting night of the season, but execution faltered at critical times to finish the upset bid.

“We had a two or three-point lead and then we went turnover, missed bad shot and turnover in three of our next five possessions,” Schafer said. “In a game like this the margin for error is razor thin. It was our best shooting night and we were really efficient from the field, I thought. We just have to be willing to take the body (for charges) on some of those drives.”

Crawford led the Panthers with 17 points and Avery Fuller battled the athletic Cyclones well inside with 12 points.

Two names familiar with Creston football fans — star receivers Aidan Hall and Connor Frame — led the Cyclones with 18 and 16 points, respectively.

Longtime Harlan coach Mitch Osborn praised the Panthers’ effort after escaping with the four-point win.

“We knew it was going to be a terrific game down here, playing Creston on their home court,” Osborn said. “They are better than their record indicates. They have been in some close games and this one came down to the final minute. Crawford was incredible for them tonight. We knew he was capable, but not five threes! Anytime we come to Creston and walk out with a win, we’re tickled pink.”

Creston led 14-7 early when Crawford hit his second 3-pointer of the game. The game was tied 31-31 at halftime and Harlan led 53-51 entering the fourth quarter.

Schafer said while the losses have weighed on the Panthers, emotionally, playing one of the top 3A teams in the state into the final seconds in a one-possession spread shows the Panthers’ potential for the final stretch of the season.

“The guys have fought and been in these types of games all year long,” Schafer said. “It’s tough to stay up, but this group just keeps coming back. I expect us to be ready to go next Friday at Red Oak.”

Substate groupings were announced Friday. Creston is in Class 3A Substate 7 along with No. 8-ranked Pella, Winterset, Bondurant-Farrar, Carlisle, Clarke, Knoxville and North Polk.

HARLAN (67) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 18 13-21 67. Aidan Hall 7 4-6 18, Connor Frame 5 2-3 16, Bradley Curren 5 1-2 12, Jacob Birch 3 2-4 9, Franz Reisz 2 3-4 7, Teagon Kasperbauer 2 1-2 5. 3-point goals — 6 (Frame 4, Birch 1, Curren 1). Team fouls — 8. Fouled out — None.

CRESTON (63) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 15 4-6 63. Ethan Crawford 6 0-0 17, Avery Fuller 6 0-0 12, Tony Davidson 3 4-4 10, Kyle Strider 4 0-0 9, Patrick Varner 2 0-0 6, Cael Turner 2 0-0 5, Khalil Sherrod 2 0-2 4. 3-point goals — 9 (Crawford 5, Varner 2, Turner 1, Strider 1). Rebounds — Sherrod 6, Davidson 67, Turner 4, Strider 3. Assists — Strider 6, Turner 5. Team fouls — 17. Fouled out — None.