Cyclone boys sweep season series with Monarchs behind strong defense
HARLAN — The Harlan Community Cyclone boys basketball team completed a season sweep of rival Denison-Schleswig on Tuesday night with a 48–32 win, backed by a strong defensive effort.
The night also served as senior night, as the Cyclones honored Dallas McDowell, Gabe Arkfeld, and Jake Wageman, all four-year members of the program. Head Coach Dean Mosher spoke on what the trio has meant to the program in his first year as head coach.
“It’s a great group of guys,” Mosher said.
“I had these guys in seventh grade when I coached them, and it’s been great to see them grow since then through track and football. Good kids, a good core, and it was great to get the win.”
Denison-Schleswig struck first as Blaine Grady scored the opening five points for an early 5–0 lead. The Cyclones answered soon after and took control for most of the night.
McDowell scored 10 first-quarter points, while Colton Schneider added tough finishes as HCHS built a 21–11 lead after one.
Schneider opened the second quarter with two free throws, but offense was scarce for both sides for several minutes.
The Cyclone press caused disruption, with tipped passes and broken sets.
Kreed Boggess ended the drought with his first basket to extend the lead to 27–11.
Wilson Riphin scored a turnaround jumper just before halftime, as the Cyclones took a 27–13 lead into the break.
Defense remained the theme after halftime as Denison-Schleswig shifted to a 2–3 zone.
Owen Galvin scored all five Monarch points in the third quarter with an and-one and free throws.
Kobe Klaassen and Arkfeld answered for HCHS, which led 31–18 after three.
The Cyclone offense found its rhythm again in the fourth.
After Grady cut the lead to 33–21, McDowell knocked down a key three to push the lead to 36–21.
Wageman followed with a floater, and after a brief Monarch response, Cole Koesters scored inside. Klaassen then buried a three to extend the lead to 43–26, which sparked chants from the Cyclone student section of “Start the Buses.”
HCHS closed out the night with a 48–32 win, snaping a three-game skid, and move to 5–9 overall and 2–6 in Hawkeye 10 play.
Mosher said the win was an important step for his team.“We mixed some press that helped,” Mosher said.
“We had a tough stretch on offense in the third, but the guys stayed with it. We needed this win. We’ve been in a lot of close games, and it was good to finish one and stay in control.”
The Cyclones travel to Creston on Friday night to face the Panthers, who sit at 2–12 on the season. HCHS won the first matchup 60–38. Tip is set for 7:30
