Lynnville-Sully Boys Basketball: Focusing on winning close games

Nick Harthoorn, Lynnville-Sully boys basketball coach, has one main goal this year — winning the close games. In his first year as coach in 2007-08, the Hawks were 8-13 overall and just 4-8 in games decided by eight points or less. Add into that, Lynnville-Sully was just 1-3 in games decided by three points or less, and it makes for a year of missed opportunities. “We were real competitive last year,” said Harthoorn. “We played a lot of tight games, so this year we’re looking to get over the hump.” Lynnville-Sully lost just two seniors from last year, and only one starter in Kyle Nikkel. Nikkel, a first-team South Iowa Cedar League selection, averaged 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game — both team leading a year ago. “Last year we were v