Creston falls in another close game

CLARINDA – Creston (6-12, 4-9 Hawkeye 10) basketball recorded their sixth loss in as many games Monday night with a 52-49 loss in overtime at Clarinda (12-9, 5-6 Hawkeye 10).

The Panthers have lost by a combined 33 points over the six game slide.

“I was really pleased with the way we played defense tonight, didn’t give a ton of easy looks and worked hard,” Creston head coach Bryce Schafer said. “I thought we didn’t rebound the ball very effectively early in the game and I think we were really flat at the beginning of the game.”

Clarinda scored the first six points of the game and led 16-3 after the first quarter.

“We held them to seven in the second [quarter] and we got back into it,” Schafer said.

At halftime, Creston and Clarinda were tied at 27.

“They went into a zone in the third quarter that gave us some issues off the bat and we only scored four points in the entire third quarter, the fourth quarter we came back around and I think we ended up scoring 14 points.”

Cael Turner had a game high 20 points for Creston.

“Offensively we’re not getting consistency from a lot of guys,” Schafer said. “Right now, Cael Turner is our most consistent offensive player back-to-back games 18 and 20, if you take the first six games of the year out he’s averaging right around 12 to 14 a game for us.”

The Panthers, who were outscored 7-4 in the overtime period, were also narrowly edged in the shooting department as Clarinda held an 18-16 field goal advantage and a 16-11 free throw advantage.

“We just didn’t hit shots,” Schafer said. “We got open looks again tonight and we can’t hit shots. I say that and we got six 3-point baskets tonight which is a high number for us, We had a ton more open looks and some shots hit the rim that didn’t go in, [us] giving up 52 points in an overtime game, I can’t be mad at our defense at all.”

McCoy Haines, a sophomore, appeared in his fifth game of the season Monday night.

“He [McCoy] hasn’t got minutes all year,” Schafer said. “He hit a 3-point basket, he gets to the rack, he hit some free throws, didn’t turn the ball over and defensively he’s one of the best on-ball defenders we have.”

Creston travels to Hawkeye 10 Conference leader Harlan (13-4) Friday.

The Cyclones narrowly escaped Creston’s upset attempt, 67-63, on Jan. 28.

“We just have got to get better at making shots because we had plenty of opportunities,” Schafer said.

Clarinda 52, Creston 49

CRESTON (49) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 16 11-18 49. Cael Turner 6 5-6 20, Khalil Sherrod 3 2-3 9, Kyle Strider 3 0-0 7, McCoy Haines 2 0-1 5, Patrick Varner 1 1-4 3, Derej Paup 0 2-2 2, Tony Davidson 1 0-0 2, Ethan Crawford 0 1-2 1. 3-point goals — 6 (Turner 3, Strider 1, Sherrod 1, Haines 1). Team fouls — 29. Fouled out — None.

CLARINDA (52) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 18 16-28 52. Grant Jobe 5 8-10 18, Drew Brown 6 6-9 18, Isaac Jones 3 2-6 8, Wyatt Schmitt 3 0-2 6, Cooper Neal 1 0-1 2, Cole Baumgart 0 0-2 4. 3-point goals — 0. Team fouls — 17. Fouled out — None.

Late Red Oak surge seals fate

RED OAK – Creston fell 58-45 at Red Oak on Friday, and for the majority of the game the visiting Panthers were close.

The Panthers trailed 13-9 at the end of the first quarter. At halftime, the Panthers and the Tigers were tied at 23.

“I thought we came out flat in the first half I thought we scrapped back into it going into halftime,” Schafer said. Our best players did not perform tonight. We were 1-of-18 from the perimeter, apparently we used all of our 3-point shooting against Harlan so we got to go back to the drawing board and figure something out.

Max DeVries, who had 23 points in Creston’s 57-52 win on Jan. 17, had another stellar shooting stat line with a game high 27 points.

“He’s probably the best shooter in the conference,” Schafer said.

With 6:02 left in the game, Creston trailed 39-35.

Red Oak went on a 13-4 run to put the game out of reach.

“We came out and played like junk in the second half, all the credit to them they made the game happen their way,” Schafer said.

Also in the second half, senior Avery Fuller got injured and left the game when the basketball hit his eye.

“Avery is one of few guys that has no problem being physical so we lose that, that’s tough and he’s a really good bench player for us,” Schafer said. “I’m just happy to hear his eye is OK and that he’ll be able to be with us the remainder of the season.”

“I would also care to mention I think it was absolutely disgusting that the Red Oak fanbase was laughing in the stands as he comes off with his eye covered, that’s probably one of the most sickening things that I’ve seen from a crowd ever,” Schafer added. “I was not very pleased with that, having said that, that could just be me being in my feelings about the loss.”

Red Oak 58, Creston 45

CRESTON (45) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 15 14-19 45. Cael Turner 5 7-8 18, Khalil Sherrod 4 0-0 8, Kyle Strider 2 4-6 8, Patrick Varner 2 0-0 4, Tony Davidson 1 2-4 4, Avery Fuller 1 1-1 3. 3-point goals — 1 (Turner 1). Team fouls — 15. Fouled out — Strider.

RED OAK (58) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 17 17-23 58. Max DeVries 8 6-6 27, Baylor Bergren 3 1-2 8, Ryan Johnson 2 4-7 8, Kaden Johnson 3 1-2 7, Hunter Gilleland 0 4-4 4, Braden Woods 1 0-0 3, Nicholas Fouts 0 1-2 1. 3-point goals — 7 (DeVries 5, Woods 1, Bergren 1). Team fouls — 16. Fouled out — None.