Hot Husky start sinks Panthers

The Winterset girls opened their season in red-hot fashion with a 55-40 victory at Creston Monday night.

The Huskies sank four 3-pointers in taking a 21-7 lead early in the second quarter. Creston settled into its game later in the second quarter, trailing 32-22 at halftime.

Winterset again got hot from 3-point range and forced Creston turnovers in taking a 40-22 lead early in the second half, but Creston again fought back late in the third quarter. During that stretch, Ava Adamson made one of her three 3-pointers in the game and free throws by Brynn Tussey, Adamson and Kadley Bailey cut it to 12 points at 45-33.

Creston continued to trail in the range of 12 to 16 points, but couldn’t cut it any closer down the stretch. Winterset led 52-40 in the final seconds before the Huskies sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Freshman guard Makenna Olson led Winterset with 20 points including five 3-pointers. Ashlynn Devine added three triples in scoring 14 points, after hitting just 11 of 54 from distance a year ago. Winterset outscored Creston 27-12 from behind the arc. The Huskies also garnered many second-chance points from offensive rebounds, with Brynn Acton dropping in 13 points.

“We got off to a slow start against an athletic team,” Creston coach Tony Neubauer said. “We dug an 11-point hole in the first quarter and then played them even the rest of the way. Our defense wasn’t very good in the first half. We gave up too many straight line drives and we were late on their back door cuts. Young team mistakes.”

Creston showed glimpses of a good fast break team, but also suffered from turnovers that were converted on the other end by the opportunistic Huskies.

“This will be my best transition group,” Neubauer said. “But, we have to be able to settle down in the half court set and run offense without turning it over. We’ll go through some eye-opening experiences this year because we’re young.”

Creston started four sophomores and its only senior (Lydia Goins), with some productive help off the bench by Adamson (junior), Alyssa Gerdes (junior) and Braylee Pokorny (sophomore).

Bailey led the Panthers with 13 points and Adamson finished with 12. Turner chipped in seven points.

“Ava is doing a nice job, shooting with confidence,” Neubauer said. “I thought Alyssa Gerdes gave us some good minutes defensively and having Braylee helps in giving Brynn a break so we can talk to her about things. We’re doing some good things. We just have to be more consistent.”

Creston, now 1-1, plays at West Central Valley tonight (Tuesday) in a 6 p.m. game.

“West Central Valley played Atlantic tough so we hope to play better in what should be a good game for us,” Neubauer said. “Then we get a week off to be in the gym, which I’m excited about.”

WINTERSET (55) — Totals — (FG FT PTS) 19 9-13 55. Makenna Olson 6 4-4 20, Ashlynn Devine 4 3-3 14, Brynn Acton 5 2-6 13, Olivia Boyle 2 0-0 4, Natalie Smith 1 0-0 2, Jaya Kleemeier 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals — 9 (Olson 5, Devine 3, Acton 1). Team fouls — 17. Fouled out — Boyle.

CRESTON (40) — Totals — (FG FT PTS) Kadley Bailey 5 2-2 13, Ava Adamson 4 1-2 12, Ella Turner 2 3-3 7, Hollynn Rieck 2 0-0 4, Braylee Pokorny 1 0-0 2, Brynn Tussey 0 2-4 2. 3-point goals — 4 (Adamson 3, Bailey 1). Team fouls — 13. Fouled out — None.