Clarinda coach ejected in 72-58 loss to Creston

The Panthers (2-5) put together a strong start to the back half of the season Wednesday as they upset Clarinda (4-5) 72-58 in conference play.

The Panthers led 16-10 at the end of the first quarter.

Several minutes into the second quarter, a Clarinda player going for the basket was called for elbowing one of the Panthers.

Clarinda head coach Conner Hanafan disagreed with the call, arguing with the referee. Hanafan was called for a technical foul. Senior Cael Turner stepped up to shoot two free throws for the penalty. After his first shot, Hanafan continued to yell, prompting a second technical and an ejection from the game.

Turner made all four free-throws, putting the Panthers up by nine points.

Clarinda struggled following the ejection, the Panthers scoring 14 unanswered points including 3-pointers by Turner and freshman Rhett Driskell.

“We had our best night as a team from the perimeter with nine 3s going down which is a big monkey off of our backs as well,” Creston coach Bryce Schafer said. “Our composure throughout the game was solid.”

Driskell wasn’t the only freshman to see the court, Tanner Ray also logging minutes on the court. “There were obvious nerves which are completely expected, but Rhett contributed scoring and Tanner will be added depth defensively,” Schafer said. “We just needed to pull some depth up and they have proved to be valuable additions for sure.”

Turner led the team in scoring with 22 points. Senior Tony Davidson and junior Jake Hoyt each added 12.

Senior Conner Wiley is still out with an arm injury sustained in a previous game.

Junior Parker Varner led with six rebounds and had eight points.

The second half began with back-to-back 3-pointers by Varner.

Turner, Varner, Hoyt and senior Gavin Millslagle each had two steals in an impressive defensive performance.

“We looked to be the aggressor and take Clarinda out of rhythm with ball pressure and denying passing lanes so they would stagnate and not have the ability to get the ball in clean to their bigs,” Schafer said.

In the final quarter, the Panthers struggled to play defensively without fouling. The Cardinals eneded up outscoring Creston 21-15 in the fourth quarter, five of the points from free throws.

The Panthers shot 51.1% from the field compared to 38.6% by the Cardinals. Each team committed 16 turnovers.

With the win, the Panthers improve to seventh in the Hawkeye 10 while the Cardinals fall to eighth.

STATS

CLARINDA (58) — Totals (FG FT PTS) — 22 9-15 58. Creighton Tuzzio 6 5-7 17; Sam Kline 5 0-0 13; Dalton Wright 3 3-6 10; Andrew Jones 4 1-2 9; Kyle Wagoner 2 0-0 5; Ryan Wagoner 1 0-0 2; Noah Harris 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals — 5 (Kline 3, Kyle Wagoner 1, Wright 1). Team fouls — 20. Fouled out — Warner Schmitt.

CRESTON (72) — Totals — (FG FT PTS) 24 15-22 72. Cael Turner 7 5-6 22; Tony Davidson 5 2-4 12; Jake Hoyt 4 3-4 12; Parker Varner 3 0-0 8; Brayden Schoon 2 3-4 7; Lucas Rushing 2 0-0 6; Rhett Driskell 1 1-2 4; Tommy Sand 0 1-2 1. 3-point goals — 9 (Turner 3, Varner 2, Rushing 2, Hoyt 1, Driskell 1.) Turnovers — 16. Team fouls — 14. Fouled out — None.