Indians sink Panthers in substate, 71-63

OSCEOLA — The junior duo of 6-4 forward Jack Cooley and 6-6 center Cole White proved to be too much to overcome in the end for the Creston boys basketball team in eight-point loss to open Class 3A Substate 8 play Monday night on the Indians’ court.

Cooley poured in 24 points, including a transition dunk before the final buzzer that put an exclamation mark on Clarke’s 71-63 victory. White, who sat much of the fourth quarter with four fouls, finished with 20 points and was an intimidating defensive presence affecting Creston’s driving game.

“I thought we got some good perimeter shots and nothing fell tonight,” Creston coach Bryce Schafer said. “Other than Patrick’s two in the first half, we didn’t get much to fall. We did an exceptional job when we were able to pull 31 (White) out from the rim. When we spread them out, we got to the rim. Looking back, we should have pushed it in transition more, especially after some of their turnovers.”

Schafer said the Panthers tried a variety of defensive schemes against White in the middle, but Clarke senior guard Garrett Diehl was open for kickouts when White garnered extra attention, and Diehl finished with three of the Indians’ four 3-pointers.

Schafer also said the coaching staff did the Panthers no favors Monday. He cited a technical foul on an assistant coach and a second technical moments later in the second quarter when it was determined two numbers were wrong for Creston players in the official book. Clarke led 17-10 at the time after the free throws and possessions it was 19-10.

Patrick Varner, who scored a team-high 22 points in his final game as a Panther got hot near the end of the second quarter and the Panthers closed a 12-point deficit (34-22) to just seven at the break, 36-29.

“I’d gone 14 years without a book technical foul,” Schafer said. “Nolan Pryor wasn’t with us tonight and I wrote his number on the regular line in the book. That’s on me. I didn’t double check it. We needed to keep it close right there and those technicals didn’t help us in trying to do that. Instead, they expanded their lead.”

Clarke moved ahead by 14 points in the third quarter but the Panthers fought back again, cutting it to a four-point deficit multiple times in the final four minutes. The last time occurred when Cooley missed a dunk and then committed his fourth foul with 32 seconds left. Panther senior Kyle Strider made two free throws to shave it to 67-63.

But the Indians countered with two free throws by Cooley with two free throws at the :23 mark and after another Panther miss, he finished it with his fast break dunk before the buzzer.

Transition offense was a key to the victory, according to Clarke coach Michael Fischels.

“We have run all year and we don’t mind the press because it opens us up,” Fischels said. “We have good athletes who can finish at the rim. Our factor of a 6-6 big man was helpful.”

Clarke, now 16-6, travels to 21-0 Bondurant-Farrar in a substate semifinal game Thursday night. After going 7-15 last year in a series of close losses, Creston ended at 11-9 this season.

“Our guys battled and there’s nothing negative I can say about their effort tonight,” Schafer said.

Seniors in addition to Varner and Strider on this year’s squad were Logan Anson, Ethan Crawford, Kyle Stafford, Nolan Pryor, Payton Conley and Noah Felix.

In other 3A substate openers, Glenwood topped Atlantic 60-55 and Harlan defeated Lewis Central 54-43. Winterset fell to Boone, 53-49.

CLARKE (71) — Totals (FG FT PTS) — 28 11-19 71. Jack Cooley 10 3-4 24, Cole White 8 4-8 20, Garrett Diehl 3 1-2 10, Oscar Castro 3 3-5 9, Bo Otto 2 0-0 4, Ashton Giza 1 0-0 2, Jesus Vega 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals — 4 (Diehl 3, Cooley 1). Team fouls — 14. Fouled out — None.

CRESTON (63) — Totals — (FG FT PTS) 25 11-14 63. Patrick Varner 10 0-0 22, Cael Turner 7 4-5 18, Jake Hoyt 3 4-5 10, Kyle Strider 3 3-4 9, Logan Anson 1 0-0 2, Ethan Crawford 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals — 2 (Patrick Varner 2). Team fouls — 17. Fouled out — None.