South Hardin turns back AGWSR boys

ACKLEY –A share of the North Iowa Cedar West Conference crown was captured by the South Hardin boys’ basketball team, turning back a feisty AGWSR here Monday.

A heavy dose of Beau Butler in the paint powered the Tigers, posting an impressive double-double of 26 points and 19 rebounds. The junior was highly-efficient, making 9-of-11 field goals and 8-of-10 free throws. He had 11 defensive rebounds and eight on the offensive end.

“Beau is a monster,” said South Hardin coach Nathan Gevelinger. “I’m thankful he is on our team and we don’t have to play against him. He is a special player.”

The victory improved South Hardin to 9-2 in the league for a one-game lead over 8-3 Gladbrook-Reinbeck with one to play. The win was also a fourth straight for the Tigers to stand 12-6 overall. 

“It is nice (to share) but I want to win the conference and I know the kids do also,” Gevelinger said.

The contest was one of runs – South Hardin looking to pull away and AGWSR keeping close.

The Tigers uncorked a dozen unanswered points late in the third period into the fourth to go from two down to up 52-42. The run was ignited by reserve Jesse Roe’s three-point goal and to open the fourth Kael Carr’s fourth trey around two Butler free throws and a basket.

The Cougars clawed back within 52-48 with six straight points – four for Luke Starr and a Jaden Penning layup.

Butler’s bucket and one free throw stretched South Hardin’s lead to nine with 1:41 remaining. AGWSR’s Tanner Weichers answered with a top of the key three to pull within 57-51 when the Tigers scored eight of the final 10 points.

“We are going to get everyone’s best shot and that happen again tonight,” said Gevelinger. “We knew AGWSR would give us a game and they did. I thought we were patient and finished well in the fourth.”

Carr was next best in the Tigers’ scoring column at 12 points followed by Garrison Tripp 10 to go with six assists and five boards, and Dante Dolash eight.

Four Cougars finished in double digits led by Starr’s 18 followed by Weichers 12 and 10 each for Penning and Titan Opperman, who sank two treys. Starr collected eight rebounds and five assists.

“I can’t fault the effort, the kids battled all night long,” said AGWSR coach Riley Schipper. “When we share the basketball and get four guys in double figures most nights you are going to win those games.”

Schipper added Butler was the difference. “We didn’t do a good job on the backboards and Butler made us pay for it. We knew that coming in and didn’t take care of it.”

The two teams traded runs in the second period to end 32-27 in favor of South Hardin at the break. The Tigers had an early 11-0 spurt to lead 30-17 and the Cougars closed the half on a 10-2 run.

AGWSR tied the game twice in the third – 32-32 early on an Opperman three-ball and then 40-all on Starr’s three-point play. Moments later Chase Harms’ one basket gave the hosts a short-lived lead 42-40.

The win earned a season sweep for the Tigers, taking the first game 54-47 in December.

The Cougars slipped to 3-7 in the league and 5-12 overall.

            Scoring by Quarters:

S. Hard    16              16              13              20              -65

AGWSR   15              12              15              12              -54

                  South Hardin scoring – Beau Butler 26, Kael Carr 12, Garrison Tripp 10, Dante Dolash 8, Waylen Butler 4, Jesse Joe 3, Ryan Walters 2. Three-point goals: Carr 4, Dolash 2, Roe 1.

                  AGWSR scoring – Luke Starr 18, Tanner Weichers 12, Titan Opperman 10, Jaden Penning 10, Ben Macy 2, Chase Harms 2. Three-point goals: Opperman 2, Weichers 1.