Winterset boys defeat Creston

Creston dropped their season opener Monday to the Winterset Huskies 69-51.

The visiting Huskies led 17-9 after the first quarter and jumped out with a 5-0 run to start the second quarter.

Winterset continued their hot shooting as they went into halftime up 36-21.

“I thought we played with a lot of energy,” Creston coach Bryce Schaefer said. “This was a game we’re trying to find our chemistry and who is gelling together.”

Creston struggled offensively in the third quarter as the Huskies found a 10-3 run.

Additionally, turnovers plagued the Panthers all game Monday night.

“At the end of the day, the deciding factor in that game regardless of the score was the fact we turned the ball over like 25 times,” Schafer said. “If we limit those turnovers, and that comes with inexperience and just learning, we’re competitive as heck.”

Winterset’s Charlie McDonald got called for a technical two minutes in the fourth quarter for swearing.

Kyle Strider hit the ensuing two free throws, and shortly thereafter Derek Paup made a put back jumper to bring continue Creston’s 11-5 run to open the quarter.

“Kyle Strider had a solid game, Derek Paup played well,” Schafer said.

Logan Anson hit a pair of 3-point baskets in the loss.

“We were stalling out I thought, we needed some kind of spark,” Schafer said of the junior guard. “I thought he played really well in the JV game, so I decided let’s give him a shot.”

“I think as a whole, our team did a nice job, we just got to clean the turnovers up, finish at the basket and I think we’ll be really competitive,” Schafer said.

Derek Paup was the leading scorer for the Panthers with 12 points. Kyle Strider contributed 10 points to the Creston tally.

Winterset won the JV game, 55-44. Ethan Crawford led Creston with 12 points.

Creston travels to St. Albert on Dec. 7.

Winterset 69, Creston 51

WINTERSET (69) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 24 13-22 69. Levi Gurwell 7 0-0 17, Dawson Forgy 5 2-3 12, Eli Adkins 3 2-2 11, Brayden Dinkla 3 4-4 11, Nathan Avery 3 5-11 11, Charlie McDonald 1 0-0 3, Blake Bellamy 1 0-2 2, Blake Feuring 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals — 8 (Gurwell 3, Forgy 2, Stover 1, Dinkla 1, Adkins 1, McDonald 1). Team fouls — 17. Fouled out — None.

CRESTON (51) — (FG FT PTS) Totals — 20 8-14 51. Derek Paup 5 2-4 12, Kyle Strider 3 2-3 10, Tony Davidson 3 3-4 9, Avery Fuller 3 1-2 7, Logan Anson 2 0-0 6, Khalil Sherrod 2 0-0 4, Patrick Varner 1 0-0 3, Erick Rodriguez 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals — 5 (Anson 2, Strider 2, Varner 1). Team fouls — 18. Fouled out — Davidson.