Huskies fall late to Lions

Highland’s Chase Schultz looks for a shot late in the fourth quarter of Monday’s 45-36 loss to Lone Tree. Schultz finished with 12 points. (Hunter Moeller/The Union)

LONE TREE — Highland fell to Lone Tree in their Monday night divisional matchup, 45-36.

Trevor McFarland goes up for a shot in the first half of Highland’s matchup against Lone Tree on Monday. McFarland led the Huskies with 13 points. (Hunter Moeller/The Union)

Monday’s Southeast Iowa Superconference North matchup between Highland and Lone Tree was a tight one throughout. The Huskies kept it close, but could never find a way to pull away with the lead.

“We’re still learning how to finish ballgames,” Highland head coach Bill Zywiec said. “That’s something that plagued us last year. Just having those stretches in the ballgame where we’re not able to put the ball into the rim, that’s something we’ve got to continue to work on.”

Both teams struggled to score in the first quarter, as both Highland and Lone Tree were tied at three for over half of the first quarter.

Brenton Bonebrake attempts to lay the ball in following a Highland steal against Lone Tree. (Hunter Moeller/The Union)

The quarter ended with both teams tied, 6-6.

In the second quarter, the Huskies would have their best scoring outage. Within two minutes, the score of tied 12-12, already outscoring the first quarter totals.

Highland began to struggle on the offensive end midway through the second and Lone Tree took advantage. At just under three minutes to go in the second, Lone Tree led 21-12 without Highland scoring in over three minutes. The Lions went on an 11-0 run during that period.

Kaige Vonnahme shoots a three in front of the Lone Tree student section in the first quarter of Monday’s loss to the Lions. (Hunter Moeller/The Union)

The Huskies bounced back. Highland went on a run of their own to end the first half. The Huskies scored six unanswered to cut the lead, 21-18.

Senior Trevor McFarland scored nine of his team high 13 points in the second.

“Trevor is our point guard,” Zywiec said. “After our first game, we told him he needs to have the ball in his hand more. Things happen for us when the ball is in his hand.”

For Highland, the third quarter was their best in terms of offense and defense, but they couldn’t find the lead. The Huskies outscored the Lions 10-7 in third, tying the game once at 24 and to end the quarter at 28 all.

In the fourth, Lone Tree took control, outscoring Highland 17-8. Chase Schultz had six of those eight points.

“Chase is gotta be dominant for us,” Zywiec said. “He need his big presence around the basketball. He’s got to look to score. At times he’s unselfish with the basketball and we need him to be selfish. He’s a big body and when he gets around the basket good things usually happen for us.”

The game was tied 30-30 after three minutes of play in the fourth. Lone Tree then hit two threes and got an easy layup in the span of two minutes to increase their lead, 38-32. Highland never had an answer, as they only scored four more points to end the game.

Chase Schultz added five rebounds to his 12 points. Connor Grinstead and Kaige Vonnahme both chipped in four points. Devin Lovetinsky ended with three.

Comments: hunter.moeller@southeastiowaunion.com