SULLY — Defense has come to the forefront for Lynnville-Sully’s basketball teams in 2013-14. Almost every game, the Hawk coaches point to defense as key to their teams’ success.
Friday night at home was no exception.
Lynnville-Sully’s girls posted a 20-point win, 56-36, over the H-L-V Warriors. The Hawk boys followed with a dominating 55-22 victory over the Warriors. The Hawk girls improved to 14-2 while the boys are 11-3.
“The guys played great defense again,” said Nick Harthoorn, L-S boys’ head coach. “We struggled a little offensively in the first half, but the guys made the adjustment in the second half. We did a better job of attacking the hoop and getting the ball inside.”
Lynnville-Sully’s boys heated things up offensively with a 60-percent clip, 24-of-40, from the field. On the other end, the Hawk defense held the Warriors to a very, chilly 16 percent, 7 of 44, from the field.
The Hawks gave up 12 points in the first half, leading 25-12 at halftime. They outscored the Warriors 30-10 in the second half on their way to a sixth straight win.
Sage Ehresman and Kyle Van Dyke each tossed in 12 points for the Hawks. Ehresman also dished out four assists while Van Dyke pulled down seven rebounds.
Darin Hofer controlled nine rebounds and T.J. Cunningham had six rebounds. Ben Trettin made six of the team’s 11 steals.
Dakota Stults had 11 points to lead the Warriors.
“After the first quarter, I thought our defensive pressure was better and we did a good job in the second half running the floor getting some easy points,” said Jerry Hulsing, L-S girls’ head coach. “After the first quarter, I thought we settled into an offensive scheme that allowed us to get the inside and score, which then opened up the outside for some good looks.”
Hulsing talked about “after the first quarter,” because the Warrior girls led the Hawks 9-8 at the end of the first period. Lynnville-Sully, which is ranked sixth in Class 1A, outscored H-L-V 15-8 in the second quarter to lead 23-17 at halftime.
The Hawk girls continued to score at will in the second half. They held an 19-11 edge in the third quarter and finished on a 14-8 run in the fourth.
Cassie Cullen scored 18 points, grabbed six rebounds and made four steals for the Hawks. Lysandra James had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
The Hawk girls shot 33 percent, 21-of-64, from the field. They were 10-of-16 from the free-throw line. The Hawks held a 46-22 rebounding edge.
Becca Vos made seven steals for Lynnville-Sully, which had 19 steals in the game. Jade Van Rees had four assists.
Abby Schafbuch scored 13 points for H-L-V.
Lynnville-Sully’s teams go to Belle Plaine Tuesday.
Boys’ Game
H-L-V 6-6-4-6—22
Lynnville-Sully 13-12-15-15—55
H-L-V — Stults 11, Nowotny 1, York 5, Kriegel 3, Maschmann 2.
Lynnville-Sully — Cunningham 8, Trettin 4, Brand 6, Ehresman 12, Zegers 5, Van Dyke 12, Hofer 8.
Girls’ Game
H-L-V 9-8-11-8—36
Lynnville-Sully 8-15-19-14—56
H-L-V — A. Schafbuch 13, Kuesel 6, K. Schafbuch 5, Pierce 5, Tanner 3, Schafer 2, Shaull 2.
Lynnville-Sully — Cullen 18, James 10, Terpstra 9, Vos 8, Van Rees 5, Rasmusson 5, Van Wyk 1.