Red Oak girls BB continues winning streak

The Red Oak girls basketball team defeated Glenwood and Harlan last week to earn a five-game winning streak.
The Tigers battled to a 61-41 victory over Glenwood in front of the home crowd Tuesday, Jan. 15.
The Tigers began with an 8-0 run, and held the Rams scoreless for three minutes before Brooklyn Taylor made a jump shot to get the Rams on the board.
“We were very balanced,” Red Oak girls head coach Maddie Gelber said. “Sophie and Chloe kind of dominate that, but we were still very balanced. We have a lot of kids that can step up and make the shots.”
The Tigers continued to drain the shots, and held a 17-6 lead to end the first frame with five Tigers scoring.
Glenwood came back in the second quarter to outscore Red Oak 13-10 with the help of back-to-back three-pointers, one each from Madison Camden and Joslyn Lewis.
“It was a very physical first half,” Gelber said. “We were not ready for their physicality that first time we played them. We addressed that aspect after last game, and we were definitely more prepared tonight.” “It’s nice to finally have the team healthy and on the court together.”
Red Oak used an 8-0 run midway through the third period to extend the lead to 40-28 heading into the final eight minutes of conference play, and added another 20 points to put the game away.
“I think Red Oak was more physical than we were tonight,” Glenwood girls head coach Brian Rasmussen said. “We brought a toughness, but they got most of the fifty-fifties, and sure as heck kicked our butts on the boards tonight. They crashed the boards well.”
Red Oak combined for 41 rebounds compared to Glenwood’s 21-rebound total.
Chloe Johnson led all scorers with 20 points and teammate Sophie Walker added 17 for the Tigers.
Kyndal Kells had eight points, Lexi Johnson and Ellie Rengstorf five each; Allie West four; and Kate Carlson two.
C. Johnson and West had nine rebounds each, and Walker added seven rebounds, as well as six assists and two blocks.
Rengstorf and L. Johnson had three steals apiece.
Madison Camden led the Rams with 13 points, followed by Elle Scarborough with 10.
Boys
Red Oak began the game with back-to-back three-pointers from Carter Bruce before Glenwood took over and dominated the game for a 74-38 win.
After Red Oak’s first six points, the Rams went on a 17-4 run to finish the first quarter with a seven-point lead.
The Rams scored often and quickly in the second quarter, pulling away with the help of defensive pressure.
“I thought our intensity was pretty good,” Glenwood boys head coach Curt Schulte said. “Defensively, we like to pressure and mix it up in the full court and half court. I thought we did that well tonight.”
Garrett Couse hit a three-pointer as the halftime buzzer sounded, with the Rams leading 42-22.
Glenwood started the second half on a 10-0 run, and held the Tigers to just eight points, including a three-pointer at the buzzer by Carter Bruce to end the frame 65-30.
The Rams continued to pull away in the final frame, allowing only eight points for the Tigers.
“Last game, they really got out and ran in the second half, and we held them better this time,” Red Oak boys head coach Dan Pollock said. “We struggled to have the game energy tonight, not emotionally; that was there. We’ve had some guys sick this week and we couldn’t catch our breath sometimes. We are gaining confidence in some different areas, and our offense is coming along.
“We are starting to make basketball plays. Defense is tough to play against Glenwood. It’s almost impossible to stay in front of some of those kids like Blum and Carr, especially. Anytime you hold off on a guy, Glenwood knows how to attack that.”
Kobe Johnson led the Tigers with 14 points and Bruce added 12.
Garrett Couse, Baylor Bergren, and David Vega had three points each; Cole Carlson two points; and Isaac Birt chipped in one.
Johnson had nine rebounds, and Bergren six.
Zach Carr led three Rams into double-digit scoring with 22 points.

Harlan
The Tiger boys fell to Harlan 74-58, but Red Oak boys had the best shooting night of the season.
The Tigers shot 56 percent from the field, including 48 percent from Birt, Carlson, and Johnson.
Six different Tigers knocked down treys in the game: Couse (1), Birt (2),  Carlson (4), Bergren (1), Vega (2), and Rolenc (1).
“The second-highest scoring output of the season came without any points from leading three-point shooter Carter Bruce,” Pollock said. “Harlan planned to take him out of the offense, and Carter was only able to get off two field goal attempts on the night. Carter showed great poise and leadership in not forcing the action and trusting his teammates to fill in the scoring void, which they did well.”
The Tigers were down by just three at the half, 36-33.
A full court press limited the Tigers in the third quarter, as well as Red Oak’s 17  turnovers which led to 29 Harlan points, allowing the Cyclones to pull away.
“Going in, we knew rebounding and fouls were going to be a big factor because of Harlan’s aggression and athleticism,” Pollock said. “If the Tigers can get improvement in the areas mentioned, and keep up the improved scoring, there is definitely an upward trajectory for the team heading into the final third of the season.”
Birt led the Tigers in scoring with 16 points, followed by Carlson with 12, and K. Johnson with 11. Birt had four rebounds, Carlson two, and K. Johnson seven.
Vega had six points, five rebounds, one steal; Rolenc five points, one rebound; Couse and Bergren three  points each with two assists for Bergren; Ryan Johnson two points.
The Tigers host St. Albert tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Girls
The Red Oak girls defeated Harlan 49-46.
L. Johnson paced the Tigers with 16 points, and Walker added 10.
The girls are on the road tonight against St. Albert, beginning at 7:30 p.m.