Warrior boys overcome double-digit deficit for dramatic win over Huskies

By Willis Patenaude | Times-Register

“It was the tale of two halves,” coach Brady Stramer said of the Central boys basketball team’s dramatic 67-64 win over the Cedar Valley Christian Huskies on Jan. 3. It was a win that, at one point, seemed unlikely, until heart and resilience removed any urge to give up and Central overcame the odds. 

The Warriors found themselves down early, as the Huskies came out swinging with a 7-2 lead behind leading scorer Caleb Krueger. Owen Hammersland, who scored a team-high 23 points for Central, drained a three to stop the onslaught early. Jake Hertrampf, who finished with eight points, added a layup, but the Warriors found themselves trailing 16-9 with under two minutes remaining in the first period. 

Mason Loan put up a layup, scoring two of his 14 points near the end of the period, but a combination of missed shots and porous defense had the Warriors behind 18-11 after the first period. 

“Cedar Valley Christian came out and did a good job of getting some high quality post looks, as well as shot the ball well from the perimeter, which allowed them to score 18 first-quarter points,” Stramer said. 

Central’s improved shot selection allowed them to mount a rally in the second quarter, but back to back missed layups and a foul of Krueger gave the Huskies a 20-11 advantage. 

Stramer said the Warrior defense continued to give up “far too many open looks,” and midway through the period, trailed 31-16. The Warriors started to turn things around following a three-pointer and layup by Hammersland. After a battle for the ball, a Loan layup pulled them within 10 points.

Central was aided by the Huskies offense going cold from the field, but a pair of Warrior turnovers from gave Cedar Valley scoring opportunities as they pulled the score to 38-26. A Griffen Hammersland three at the end of the half sent the Warriors to the locker room on a high note and down just nine, 38-29. 

The second half did not start favorably for the Warriors, who missed a layup, turned the ball over and quickly found themselves down 40-29, but O. Hammersland got to the basket and Isaac Loan grabbed a rebound and raced down the court for another layup, pulling Central to within seven points. 

The Huskies went on a 10-4 run on the back of turnovers and fouls, but, at the three-minute mark in the third period, the Warriors’ full court defensive pressure turned the tide and started forcing more turnovers. The defense accounted for 16 steals and two blocks throughout the game, with Vaughn Zittergruen collecting five steals and one block and I. Loan finishing with four steals. 

M. Loan hit two massive threes down the stretch and the Warriors eventually pulled to within five points, at 52-47, entering the fourth period.  

The quarter started positively for the Warriors, with O. Hammersland sending a three-pointer through the net. I. Loan converted a turnover into points with around six minutes left, giving the Warriors a 55-54 lead. 

Central maintained that lead with O. Hammersland breaking through the defense for a layup, followed by a steal and another layup, with G. Hammersland adding a score of his own to push the advantage to 61-58. The Huskies tied the game at 61, but a Hertrampf jump shot and clutch free throw shooting by Zittergruen and G. Hammersland in the closing minute gave Central a 67-64 lead with five seconds remaining. The Warriors held their breath on a Hail Mary three by Krueger, which sailed long and gave Central a hard-fought comeback win. 

“I felt our defensive pressure down the stretch was a difference maker for us. It allowed us to prevent their post from getting the ball near the basket, while also helping our offense by being able to get some opportunities in transition. I thought our shot selection for most of the night was also a positive,” Stramer said. 

The Warriors shot 41.3 percent from the field and 34.6 percent on three-pointers. G. Hammersland led the team in rebounding with eight, half of which were on the offensive end, and Hertrampf added seven rebounds. I. Loan led the team with eight assists, and contributed four steals. Zittergruen led the team with five steals. 

Central will look to continue its winning ways with three games this week, starting with a home match-up versus South Winneshiek on Jan. 7. A road game against Maquoketa Valley will follow on Jan. 9. The Warriors will remain on the road against Clayton Ridge on Jan. 10.