GIRLS HOOPS: Top-ranked Harlan overwhelms Atlantic

Harlan remains unbeaten with 83-30 victory over Trojans at AMS

By Drew Herron - AJ/NT Sports / Feb. 6, 2014

ATLANTIC – There are a number of reasons why Harlan has won every one of its games this season, has clinched at least a share of the Hawkeye 10 Conference title, and sits atop the state’s rankings for Class 4A.

Most of those reasons were on display Thursday night at Atlantic Middle School, where the top-ranked Cyclones made quick work of the Trojans en route to a 83-30 win.

HCHS shot well from the outside and used its distinct height advantage to lock down the paint to bend the game in its favor from the opening tip. Moreover, aggressive rebounding on the offensive glass led to second-chance buckets, which the Cyclones made the most of as they built an early lead.

It took just 64 seconds for Harlan to jump out 7-0, and less than five minutes of game clock to surpass 20 points. By the end of the first quarter, HCHS led 32-9 with an offensive display more typical of an NBA game than prep girls basketball.

Ten different Cyclones would score on the night, with three in double figures. Sophomore point guard Jordyn Moser led all scorers with 23 points, Taylor Frederick added 19, and junior post Jess Schaben finished with 12.

Moser had 21 of her 23 points in the first half, where she knocked down four 3-pointers.

Harlan led 56-16 at the half and a running clock bled away time in the third and fourth quarters to wrap the game up in less than one hour.

Atlantic was led in scoring by Tiffany Williams and Macey Schmitt, both of whom finished with nine points apiece. Schmitt hit three 3-pointers on the night.

The win pushes Harlan’s record to 17-0 overall, and 10-0 in the Hawkeye 10.

Atlantic drops to 2-17 overall and 1-10 in the conference.

The loss is the seventh in a row for the Trojans, who have just two regular season games remaining before they open Regional Tournament play against Red Oak on Saturday, Feb. 15.

Atlantic will enjoy a rare Friday night off before heading to Creston (7-11/2-7) on Saturday for an afternoon game set to tip at 3:30 p.m.

Game Scoring (02/06)

ATLANTIC (2-17/1-10): Tiffany Williams 9, Macey Schmitt 9, Catherine Leonard 5, Erin Olsen 3, S. Sandbothe 1

HARLAN (17-0/10-0): Jordyn Moser 23, Taylor Frederick 19, Jess Schaben 12, Ana Petersen 9, Taylor Leinen 9, Kayla Evers 4, Emma Ahernholtz 2, Hannah Havick 2, Taylor Wagner 2, Elle Kloewer 1