Panther girls return with win

CLARINDA – The holiday break did not slow down Creston girls Tuesday as they held Clarinda to single digits in three quarters on the way to a 62-29 win Tuesday.

“We ran a lot. Coach Schafer’s conditioning drills worked out pretty good. We played hard,” said Creston girls coach Tony Neubauer who referred to Creston boy’s coach.

It took more than two minutes for the first points to be scored as Creston’s Neveah Randall found a basket. Clarinda would respond with a 3-point shot by Addison Wagoner. Panther Doryn Paup would regain the Creston lead with a basket which was the beginning of her 32-point night.

By the end of the first quarter, Creston was up 9-5.

Creston (2-7) expanded on its lead in the second quarter. Paup scored five points in a matter of 20 seconds to give the Panthers a 21-7 lead. Her last three points of those five were on a basket and free throw. Before the break, Paup would finish Creston’s scoring with four points, two coming from free throws. The Panthers were up 26-11 at half.

Paup finished 13-18 from the field and 6-8 from the free-throw line.

“We boarded well on the offensive side. They have a couple of nice freshman and big kids. I thought we did a pretty good job at that,” Neubauer said. “We did a good job of contesting shots and not giving up too many put backs.” Clarinda has a 6-0 freshman and 6-1 junior.

Clarinda started the second half with a press and scored six points early in the quarter to cut into the deficit. Paup ended the Clarinda run with a three-point play with about 4:20 in the quarter to give Creston a 31-16 lead. Clarinda’s 14-point third quarter was the only quarter they did not score five.

But Clarinda wasn’t finished.

Another scoring streak trimmed the deficit to 12 with a bit more than two minutes left in the quarter. But consecutive 3-point shots, including one from Jacy Kralik was part of a surge that pushed the Creston lead up to 44-24 going into the fourth.

“At the end of the third was big. They got it down to 10 and we had back-to-back threes. Going into the fourth up by 10 as opposed by 20 is a big difference,” Neubauer said.

Kralik finished 4-9 from the field, one 3-point shot and made her two free throws. Randall finished with seven. She also had a team high eight rebounds. Paup and Ella Turner each had seven. Randall and Kralik each had five assists.

Creston pulled away in the fourth quarter nearing a 30-point difference in the score. As a team, Creston was 24-59 shooting and was 10-14 from the free throw line. The Panthers had 15 steals.

Despite the cushion late in the game, Neubauer said there are things his team will need to improve.

“Sometimes we were not physical and need to do a better job at that,” he said. Creston’s schedule so far has been physical.

“We have had a tough schedule and played some really good teams. But tonight, it paid off. Our 1-3-1 ran well. Clarinda is a good team. It will be closer the second time around.”

Clarinda (3-7) visits Creston Feb. 6.

Denison-Schleswig visits Creston for a 6 p.m. game Friday.