Tigers’ comeback comes up short at Harlan

Red Oak battled back from down 15 at halftime to cut the lead to five with three minutes to go in the game but could get no closer in a 66-51 loss on the road at Harlan Friday in boys Hawkeye 10 Conference basketball.
“We really started slow and struggled that first half,” said Red Oak coach Ron DeVries after the game. “Brett Erickson really caught fire for us in the second half and closed the gap. We just couldn’t finish it out.”
The Tigers were hamstrung by their slow start and foul trouble. For the game, Red Oak committee 25 fouls to the Cyclones’ 11.
“That just made it even harder to get any run going,” DeVries said.
Reese Montgomery led Red Oak with 21 points and 16 rebounds. Erickson added 15 points and A.J. Beeson chipped in eight.
Kobe Klaussen led Harlan with 27 points.
 The Tigers head into the holiday break with a record of 3-3 overall, including 0-2 in the conference.
“I think we are in good shape,” DeVries said of his team’s first six games. “We need the break to heal up and get (Brayden) Sifford and (Carson) Roeder healthy, and we can be exciting for the rest of the season.”

Red Oak 51,
West Central Valley 38
A switch up on defense and a 20-8 fourth quarter run helped Red Oak to a 51-38 win over West Central Valley in non-conference boys basketball last Monday.
After playing “flat” for three quarters and holding a 31-30 lead heading into the fourth quarter, Red Oak coach Ron DeVries adjusted to a 2-3 zone and took control of the game.
“We just hit a few shots in the fourth and went to a zone that really confused them,” DeVries said. “I don’t like playing zone but it was the only way to get the win. They had not hit a three the whole game so we need to limit them to one shot.”
Reese Montgomery led the way for Red Oak with 12 points and 16 rebounds.
Brett Erickson chipped in 10 points and Landon Gigstad eight.
Roman Hammond and Juma Kurbonov paced West Central Valley with 11 points.

Harlan girls 83,
Red Oak 41
Aubrey Schwieso and Grace Albertson combined for 43 points for Harlan in an 83-41 victory over Red Oak in Hawkeye 10 Conference girls baskeball Friday in Harlan.
Schwieso led the way with 22 points, while grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out six assists
Albertsen added a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Ellison Johnson led the Tigers (0-6 overall, 0-2 in the conference) with 23 points.
Emily Sebeniecher chipped in 14 points.