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HLV-TC cruises past Valley Lutheran in preliminary round
Warriors go on big 24-0 in first half to pull away
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
VICTOR — A 24-0 run turned a three-point lead into a 27 point lead in the first half for the HLV-TC boys basketball team Friday.
The run led to a dominating 71-27 win for the Warriors in a Class 1A District 6 preliminary round game against Valley Lutheran.
“We came out flat, but we really got things going defensively,” HLV-TC coach Shawn Welsh said. “Steals led us to some easy buckets.”
Leading 11-8 midway through the first quarter, fast break points played a key role in the Warriors’ scoring run, many of them coming off steals.
The Warriors’ defensive intensity in the zone increased greatly in the second quarter.
The Crusaders also ran a zone defense, and the Warriors were able to pick it apart in the final three-and-a-half quarters.
One of the key cogs in the game was Lance Milton, who scored most of his 14 points attacking the middle or facilitating to open teammates.
“I was just keeping my head in the game and getting to the middle (of the zone) where the openings were,” Milton said. After the first quarter, we started getting better shots and moving the ball better.“
The Warriors connected on nine three-pointers in the game, six coming from Sean McCulloch.
“Attacking the middle was the focal point all week,” Welsh said. “That gave Sean some good looks from outside.”
Leading 40-12 at halftime, McCulloch poured in four of his threes in the third to go along with 18 of his game-high 30 points. McCulloch made 12 of his 17 shot attempts.
The lead was 40 after three, and the Warriors got some minutes for the reserves in the final period.
Valley Lutheran (0-20) was led by Jason Neifer, who scored 14 of the team’s 27 points.
HLV-TC (7-15) extended its win streak to three games, and will travel to face East Marshall (15-6) in the first round Monday.
The Warriors finally had a healthy starting five consistently the last few weeks of the regular season, leading to their best stretch of basketball of the season.
“It just took a few games to get everyone used to playing together again after having Tucker (Donaldson) back, who is a big cog in what we do,” Welsh said.
The win was the Warriors first postseason win since 2023.
Lone Tree 85, Belle Plaine 51
LONE TREE — In the other area preliminary round game Friday night, Lone Tree defeated Belle Plaine in District 10, 85-51.
Reece Holbrook led the Lions with 16 points.
Belle Plaine finishes the season 0-22.
