Dike-New Hartford will travel to Grundy Center for a North Iowa Cedar League basketball doubleheader Friday.
The #10 (2A) Spartan girls (2-0) will look to build upon Tuesday’s 45-35 win at South Hardin. Head Coach Matt Lindeman says the team is looking to be more consistent than last season with a veteran lineup.
“We’d find ways, but it was really, really hard,” Lindeman says. “So can we take that next step and can we take what the defense has given us and be able to execute that at a high level? Can we get high percentage shots and be able to finish them? And then ultimately, can we get to the free throw line and knock down a good percentage? Our goal is always 70 percent or higher. And so we were in the fifties last year at the highest. So we have to do a better job of shooting at the free throw line and finish those games when that opportunity comes.”
They shot 43 percent at the free throw line Tuesday, but took advantage with a plus nine turnover margin.
The Wolverine girls (0-1) fell 56-38 to Hudson Tuesday to begin the season, where Rylee Reicks led with 15 points. Head Coach Matt Dove says with many returning members of last year’s lineup, he hopes they can find the rhythm they found near the end of last season.
“We’ve been thinking about how can we pick up where we left off so to speak with girls like Payton Foster, Kailyn Meester, Rylee Reicks, who were really in the mix of all that and have a good understanding of what it took to see the increase in production that we had there towards the end of the year,” Dove says. “I think they’ve done a really good job of keeping that sense of urgency. Mallory Petersen has done a really good job just leading by example, working hard in practice. And I think the young kids are starting to see that too. Really, really pleased with the mindset of the kids just to take everything one day at a time, one practice at a time, and we’ll see where that takes us.”
The boys game will feature two 1-0 teams that each won by nine points in their season openers on Tuesday. The Wolverines defeated Hudson 50-41 with 19 points by Jaiden Soppe. The Spartans held off a comeback in a 49-40 win over South Hardin.
The doubleheader will start at 6:15 p.m.
