Harlan completes an unprecedented feat

DES MOINES — Looking for a strong case against specialization?

Consider the Harlan Cyclones.

Top-rated Harlan concluded an unprecedented feat Saturday night when it defeated No. 2 Western Dubuque, 56-46, for the Class 3A girls' state basketball championship at Wells Fargo Arena.

Harlan (26-0) pushed its winning streak to 52 games. And it became the first school in history to capture state titles in both volleyball and girls' basketball in consecutive school years.

'It means so much,' said all-tournament captain Taylor Frederick. 'We put so much work in during the offseason. We're a family.'

The Cyclones' joy was Western Dubuque's misery. The Bobcats (25-1) were only the second team this season to play Harlan within 10 points, but that was little consolation.

'Obviously, there's some disappointment,' said a teary-eyed Rose Simon-Ressler. 'But we have nothing to hang our heads about. Harlan's just a great team. They have weapons all over the place.'

Last year, the Cyclones won their three games here by a total of nine points, capped by a 55-51 win over Western Dubuque in the final. This year, the combined margin was 59 points.

'Our kids have played in a lot of big games,' said Harlan Coach Zach Klaassen. 'I don't know if they're better basketball players now, but with all the games they've played, they really believe in each other.'

Western Dubuque's only lead was 4-3. The Cyclones scored the next six points and gradually pulled away. It was 13-7 after a quarter, 27-18 at halftime, and the margin grew to 48-28 early in the fourth quarter.

The Bobcats didn't surrender, though, and pulled within eight points twice in the final half-minute.

'We didn't quit until the final horn,' said Bobcats Coach Amy Ostwinkle. 'We wanted to continue to put pressure on them. We were able to get some baskets, but it was too late.'

Frederick led the Cyclones with 17 points. Jess Schaben (an Iowa State volleyball recruit) added 14 points, nine rebounds and six blocks and joined Frederick on the all-tournament team.

So did Simon-Ressler and Megan Maahs, plus Tristan Beaulieu of Sioux City Heelan and Carlisle's Payton Keeney.

All five Harlan starters were on the Cyclones' back-to-back volleyball champions.

Maahs had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Bobcats. Morgan Pitz scored 10 points.

'We're going to run with this,' Maahs said. 'We lose four huge seniors, and nobody can replace them. But we're going to battle back and make another trip.'

HARLAN 56, WESTERN DUBUQUE 46 (Class 4A State Championship)

At Des Moines

WESTERN DUBUQUE (46): Mikaela Armstrong 0-3 0-0 0, Morgan Pitz 4-12 0-0 10, Rose Simon-Ressler 2-5 3-8 7, Megan Maahs 5-12 5-6 18, Jessica Cartee 1-2 0-0 2, Madison Simon 0-0 0-0 0, Bailey Ploessl 1-2 0-0 3, Maddy Clark 2-7 0-0 6, Abigail Dolphin 0-0 0-0 0, Jenna Willer 0-0 0-0 0, Quinn Herbst 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 15-46 8-14 46.

HARLAN (56): Jess Schaben 6-11 2-2 14, Taylor Wagner 1-7 3-7 5, Elle Kloewer 3-4 3-4 11, Jordyn Moser 0-2 9-12 9, Taylor Frederick 5-14 7-10 17, Allison Bruck 0-0 0-0 0, Clare Klein 0-0 0-0 0, Kayla Evers 0-0 0-0 0, Kendra Swanson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-38 24-35 56.

Halftime: Harlan 27, Western Dubuque 18. 3-point goals: Western Dubuque 8-24 (Armstrong 0-1, Pitz 2-8, Simon-Ressler 0-1, Maahs 3-5, Ploessl 1-2, Clark 2-7), Harlan 2-6 (Wagner 0-2, Kloewer 2-3, Moser 0-1). Team fouls: Western Dubuque 19, Harlan 11. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Western Dubuque 31 (Maahs 12), Harlan 31 (Schaben 9). Assists: Western Dubuque 6 (Pitz 3), Harlan 7 (Wagner, Kloewer 3). Steals: Western Dubuque 6 (Maahs 3), Harlan 8 (Frederick 4) Turnovers: Western Dubuque 12, Harlan 9.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com