The Grundy Center basketball teams swept South Hardin in a North Iowa Cedar League doubleheader on Friday night, with the No. 10 Class 2A Spartan girls earning a 50-30 win and the No. 7 Class 2A Spartan boys posting a 72-56 victory, as aired on 99 The Wave.
In the girls game, the teams traded baskets early as Grundy Center took a 16-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. Defense controlled the second quarter, limiting scoring on both sides, and the Spartans carried a 20-16 advantage into halftime. Grundy Center pulled away in the second half, outscoring South Hardin 30-14 to secure the win.
Raelyn Steinmeyer led the Spartans with 14 points, while Ayda Eller scored 11 to pace the Tigers.
The boys game followed a similar script early, with the teams tied at 16 at the end of the first quarter. South Hardin outscored Grundy Center 14-12 in the second quarter to take a two-point lead into halftime.
Grundy Center took control in the second half, outscoring the Tigers 44-26 to pull away for the win.
Head Coach Owen Thomas says the emphasis at halftime was personal responsibility on the defensive end.
“The biggest talking point in the locker room was just take pride in your matchup, man,” says Thomas. “We switched to man defense. We had success in the 3-2 against a lot of teams. Credit to them, they did a great job breaking it. Switched to man, and I told them, you just got to take pride in your matchup. Don’t let that guy get past you. And then the help side defense got a lot better in the second half. Guys were still getting by, but our help-side did a great job coming over, forcing turnovers.”
Ryder Slifer led the Spartans with 26 points, while Owen Larson scored 23 to lead the Tigers.
