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Wildcats earn a split at Stanton Tourney

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STANTON — With a New Year comes fresh expectations and that’s what the Hartington-Newcastle boys basketball team is all about as 2021 gets under way.

The Wildcats (3-7) wrapped up the last calendar year with a 73-60 loss to Stanton and 53-46 victory over West Holt to gain some momentum heading into this week’s schedule which includes Thursday’s game at Bloomfield, and Friday’s home game at the Hartington Classic.

In the loss to Stanton, HNHS dropped the home tournament opener despite 22 points from Jake Peitz and 20 points and nine rebounds from Kobe Heitman and 13 points from Bennet Sievers.

“The keys to the game were our level of focus and attention to detail in the early stages of the game,” Wildcats head coach Nick Haselhorst said. “Early on, we were unable to match and exceed the speed and energy they were playing with. We dug ourselves a sizable hole early on and were forced to try and dig out of it. I liked our fight and ability to make a run, but it was too much to overcome in the end.”

A 15-8 first quarter against West Holt was enough to hold up for the hosts and their third win of the year.

Peitz and Heitman led the way again with 20 and 17 points. “We started the game with a much higher level of focus and energy which led to better execution and resulted with us playing with a lead the entire game,” Haselhorst said. “We communicated better and were much more active defensively. As a result, we were getting steals and deflections while also contesting shots and not allowing transition points.”

This week’s contests should offer plenty of challenges.

“We expect a physical game with Bloomfield,” Haselhorst said. “They’ve got a big kid inside that we will have to box out and defend well against. If we win, we would likely play Wynot Friday. They are always a physical and well-coached team. They have a lot of experience and talent returning.

Haselhorst said his team has matured a lot in its first month of play.

“I think we are starting to de velop an understanding of what the winning formula is for our team, which consists of disruption on defense, ball security, and shot selection,” he said.

One of those players whose shots seem to go through the bottom of the net more often than not is Heitman.

“Kobe is a tremendous competitor,” Haselhorst said. “He plays with a high motor on defense and is consistently disruptive with his quick hands and active feet.”

Heitman said the win against West Holt was key as the Wildcats could start finding some confidence again.

“Coach challenged us to come out for the West Holt game and to imagine we were down by 20,” Heitman said. “That’s how we basically played the whole game. That’s the problem we have been having all season: Coming out slow. It’s a lack of focus that we have going into games and it hurts us.

“I just think it’s how people act in the locker room and prepare for game: Being too busy doing other stuff. With the whole pandemic going on, the focus is on so many other things than the game which hurts us a little bit. Then when we are down 13 or 15 points then we actually start playing. We need to have that from the get-go.”

SCORING HNS - Jake Peitz, 22; Kobe Heitman, 20; Bennett Sievers, 13; Isaac Bruning, 3; Seth Pinkelman, 2.

Rebounds HNS- Kobe Heitman, 9; Jake Peitz, 5; Bennett Sievers, 3; Turner Dendinger, 3; Seth Pinkelman, 3; Isaac Bruning, 2; Riley Sudbeck, 1.

ASSISTS HNS - Isaac Bruning, 4; Kobe Heitman, 4; Jake Peitz, 4; Bennett Sievers, 3; Turner Dendinger, 3; Seth Pinkelman, 1; Riley Sudbeck, 1.

STEALS HNS - Kobe Heitman, 4; Lane Heimes, 3; Seth Pinkelman, 3; Bennett Sievers, 2; Isaac Bruning, 1; Jake Peitz, 1; Turner Dendinger, 1; Riley Sudbeck, 1.

SCORING HNS - Jake Peitz, 20; Kobe Heitman, 17; Seth Pinkelman, 7; Isaac Bruning, 5; Bennett Sievers, 4;

Rebounds HNS- Kobe Heitman, 13; Bennett Sievers, 6; Jake Peitz, 4; Seth Pinkelman, 4; Turner Dendinger, 3; Riley Sudbeck, 3; Isaac Bruning, 1.

ASSISTS HNS - Kobe Heitman, 2; Isaac Bruning, 1; Turner Dendinger, 1,

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