HARLAN — A 15-6 mini-spurt midway through the third quarter was enough to create a 14-point bulge for Harlan, who ousted visiting Perry, 68-56, in their Class 3A Substate 8 contest Tuesday.
The Cyclones (14-7) held a 16-13 lead at after one quarter and entered the half with a 31-27 lead.
The Bluejays (5-18) continued to play well and would not let the hosts widen their gap, at least until the five-minute mark of the third period.
At that point Logan Klaassen landed two of his six 3-pointers (four came in the second half) as the hosts slowly spread their advantage to 49-35 at the end of the frame. The Jays were unable to cut the gap below double-digits down the stretch and fell by 12 points, ending the prep careers of a bushel of Bluejays.
Devon Booth, Mark Campos, Tanner Duffy, Reece Dunlap, Jacob Huffman, Rashon Ivory, Drew Levan, Aaron Lockwood, Michael Meyer, Connor Nielsen, and Luke Rathje all had their high school cage careers capped with the loss.
Ivory poured in 26 points in his final game as a Bluejay, with Duffy adding 12 points and Nielsen 10. Levan tallied five points and Brendan Ivory two, with Meyer sinking a free throw.
Shane Chamberlain led Harlan with 23 points, with Klaassen adding 18 and Brett Sears 13. Derej Schultz had five points, Jard MOser and Johnathan Manson three points apiece, Jacob Hansen two points and Hunter Manz one.
Harlan advances to host Creston, who topped Carroll, 69-65, in the second game Tuesday.
