Tigers hope to finish regular season with momentum facing Kuemper and Atlantic

RED OAK – Neither the boys’ or girls’ basketball team finished their week with a win.

The girls showed a lot of promise early in both of their games before losing to Glenwood, 63-33, and then to Harlan, 66-38.

The Tigers defense held Glenwood to only 18 first half points before giving up 26 in the third quarter, leading to the loss.

The Tigers seemed poised for a huge upset as they jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the firs quarter against Harlan.

The Cyclones were able to refocus and rallied to 12-10 to end the first quarter.

“My heart was starting to beat pretty fast. I was so excited to see my girls play as well as I know they can,” Red Oak Girl’s Basketball Head Coach Shelley Becker said. “If we can put four quarters of that kind of energy and execution together, it shows what we can do.”

The 11th-ranked Cyclones fought back, while the Tiger defense faultered in the second quarter.

Inglvile Skorpen’s minutes were limited in the second quarter due to foul trouble but she still led Reed Oak with 14 points.

Gabrielle French and Michaela Griffen added another 14 combined in the Tigers’ losing effort.

“I can say I am happy with the girls’ efforts,” Becker said. With their continued hard work and heart, I am still seeing progress being made.”

The girls get another chance to catch up with Atlantic as they meet in Atlantic at 7 p.m. tonight.

The boys’ basketball team were playing catch-up, it seemed, all week as they fell behind both Glenwood and Harlan early.

After trailing at one point 10-2 against Glenwood, the Tigers pulled within five points to trail 14-9 after the first quarter.

The Rams were able to distance themselves even more, outscoring the Tigers 19-14 in the second quarter to lead 33-23 at the half.

Glenwood never looked back as they scored 37 in the second half, handing the Tigers a 70-57 loss.

With seniors Cody Walford and Dylan Hambright on the bench with injuries, Dakota White stepped up for the Tigers scoring 27 points, with 21 of those being from behind the three-point arc.

The Tigers suffered another loss Tuesday as they lost Jackson Miller, who broke a bone in his foot, ending his season and his basketball career with Red Oak. Miller was the team’s third leading rebonder (54) and second on the team in steals (15).

Friday, Harlan came to Red Oak on Senior Night with three of the Tiger seniors in street clothes still sidelined by injury.

The Cyclones lost the previous night to Denison and appeared to let out some of their frustration on the Tigers, handing them an 80-38 loss.

Josh Kasubick led the charge for the Tigers, in the loss with 11 points.

The Cyclones outscored Red Oak in the first half and continued the the drumming throughout the second.

With their three starters out of the lineup, the Tigers saw a glimpse of the future as freshmen Tanner Johnson, Pete Walker, and Andy Vial saw more varsity experience than expected.

“These are the guys that are going to be here in the future,” Red Oak Boys’ Basketball Head Coach Brad Schlieman said. “They are improving every game, getting used to the speed and physicality of playing at this level.”