1-2 week for Warrior boys basketball team
Sophomore Owen Burke shoots a free throw in last week’s non-conference game against Ed-Co. (Photo by Bev Hamann)
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
Although losses to Crestwood and Edgewood-Colesburg snapped a five-game winning streak for the Central boys basketball team, the Warriors returned to the win column late last week against New Hampton.
Crestwood opened up a 21-13 lead over Central in the opening period of their Jan. 5 game, then unleashed 27 more points in the second quarter to take a commanding 48-26 halftime lead. Although the Cadets’ scoring pace slowed a bit in the second half, the Warriors couldn’t catch them, losing 74-59.
The Cadets benefitted from 14 three-point shots and made just over 44 percent of shots overall. The Warriors made eight long-range shots of their own, including two off the bench for Tyce Zittergruen. Griffen Hammersland also knocked down a pair of threes—part of his team-high 17 points—and grabbed five rebounds.
Jake Hertrampf finished the game with nine points and led the Warriors with seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks. Owen Hammersland chipped in nine points and Mason Loan and Isaac Loan head had eight.
In a Jan. 8 game against Ed-Co, Central held slim leads through the end of the second and third quarters. However, the Vikings went on a 22-14 fourth quarter run to pull out a 55-50 victory.
Central’s three-point shooting slowed to just five makes in this game, and the Warriors’ turnover total pushed to 22. They got to the foul line just 16 times compared to the Vikings’ 29.
Hammersland led the Warrior effort with 13 points—six coming from behind the arc. He also picked up two rebounds, two assists and a steal. Isaac Loan earned a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and topped all Warrior players with five assists. His three steals put him among team leaders.
Griffen Hammersland’s stat line included eight points, four rebounds and three steals, while Hertrampf netted six points, seven rebounds, four steals, two assists and two blocks.
The Warriors snapped their two-game losing skid on Jan. 9, at New Hampton. After trailing 24-13 at the end of the first quarter and 34-25 at halftime, this time it was Central who capitalized on a strong second half. The Warriors out-scored the Chickasaws 22-16 in the third period to close the gap to 50-47, then held their opponent to just six points down the stretch in a 66-56 victory.
Central rattled off 11 three-pointers in the win, including a five of six clip for Owen Hammersland. The junior finished the game with 23 points.
Griffen Hammersland added 12 points and four rebounds, then Hertrampf had 11 points and seven rebounds. Mason Loan also contributed 11 points and was among statistical leaders with six rebounds, eight assists and seven steals.
The Warriors are now 7-4 overall and 6-2 in the Upper Iowa Conference. This week, they’ll be tested by a pair of one-loss teams in Waukon on Jan. 15, then South Winneshiek on Jan. 16.
