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 very inexperienced, and this year, a lot of those guys got experience, so we’re looking for good things,” said Harthoorn. “I feel like we’re a balanced team.” And this year, the Hawks will be led by Zach Stafford and Dallas Bryan. Stafford was a second-team all-conference selection last year as a sophomore. He averaged 9.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per outing — both second on the team last year. Bryan, an honorable mention all-conference point guard, averaged 8.3 points per game as both Stafford and Bryan started all 21 games last year for the Hawks. Looking ahead to the conference portion of the schedule, Harthoorn sees one team as the team to beat. “HLV is probably the clear-cut favorite, but after that, it’s anybody’s game,” said Harthoorn. “My expectations are for the kids to play hard and get better. If we can do that, we can be toward the top of the conference.” And to do that, Harthoorn said his individual players need to improve first before their Dec. 2 opener at home against Tri-County. “I feel like everyone has to get better at their role to have the season that we want to have,” said Harthoorn. “We have to then come together as a team.”