Defense the key in No. 15 Cougars’ win

ACKLEY — Class 1A No. 15 AGWSR and its leading scorer Alyssa Hames was able to overcome Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s defense and its triple-teaming in an eventual 48-22 win on Friday, Jan. 8.

Hames had only nine points at halftime, but came out in the second half hot by driving in for a pair of layups to start the third quarter. She also hit a pair of threes on the way to a game-high 24 points.

“That’s just going to be a natural,” Gann said. “Everybody knows she’s going to be the one we key off of. We did a few things differently tonight to try to open her up and get her to the baseline, which is a little different than what we’ve done in the past.

“It helped get her to the basket, so she just quietly somehow does that.”

There were key contributions elsewhere, too, with MaKenna Kuper finishing with nine points and getting big three-pointers from Brynn Smith and Chaylie Lippert.

“Her (Kuper’s) outside shot is improving,” Gann said, “and we feel that can be a key help for us as we go down the line to have her as a threat and keep the defenses a little bit more honest instead of keeping the main focus (on Hames).

“Every chance we get to develop our players, we are going to do that.”

Grace Finger got into some foul trouble, but avoided fouling out despite picking up her fourth on an offensive foul mid-way through the fourth quarter.

“They did a good job of doubling down on Alyssa and Grace,” Gann said, “she (Finger) struggled to do anything. That’s a tribute to them.”

The Cougars improved to 7-2 overall, 4-1 in the NICL West.

“We’ve had a big week this week with having Grundy earlier and having to play last night and come back and play tonight,” Gann said. “Anytime you can keep a team to 22 points, there is something to be said about that.”

AGWSR 48, Gladbrook-Reinbeck 22

Gladbrook-Reinbeck (4-4, 3-1)– Xandra Anderson 0 0-0 0, Belen Ellenberger 0 1-2 1, Adriel Summers 0 0-0 0, Mahayla Olson 2 3-4 7, Katie Clark 3 1-2 7, Ava Wyatt 1 0-0 2, Lauren Boyer 0 0-0 0, Emma McClintock 2 0-0 5. Totals 7 5-8 22.

AGWSR (7-2, 4-1)– Alyssa Hames 9-18 2-2 24, Brynn Smith 3-3 1-2 8, MaKenna Kuper 4-8 1-2 9, Morgan Bakker 1-1 0-0 2, Grace Finger 0-5 0-0 0, Chaylie Lippert 1-1 0-0 3, Karis Lippert 0-0 0-0 0, Kienzie Hoodjer 0-1 0-0 0, Ava Olson 1-1 0-0 2, Avery Lafrenz 0-0 0-0 0, Anastasia Meyer 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-39 4-6 48.

G-R              2   10     3     7      -   22

AGWSR     13     9   11   15      -   48

Three-point goals– G-R 1 (McClintock); AGWSR 6-13 (Hames 4-7, Smith 1-1, C. Lippert 1-1, Kuper 0-4). Rebounds– G-R, NA; AGWSR 25 (Hames 8, Finger 8, Smith 4, Bakker 3, Kuper, Olson, Lafrenz). Assists– G-R, NA; AGWSR 13 (Kuper 5, Finger 5, Hames 2, K. Lippert). Steals– AGWSR 11 (Finger 5, Hames 3, Smith, Kuper, Hoodjer); G-R, NA.Blocks – AGWSR 1 (Hames); G-R, NA. Total fouls – AGWSR 14, G-R, NA. Fouled out – None.