Glenwood gets defensive in road win over Red Oak

Glenwood’s stifling defense limited Red Oak to 10 point and while forcing 17 turnovers in the first half of a 58-31 win in Hawkeye 10 Conference girls basketball Friday.

The Rams (8-6 overall, 5-4 in the conference) opened the game on a 17-5 run and forced nine turnovers while holding the Tigers (4-12 overall, 1-8 in the conference) to 2-of-10 shooting in the first quarter. For the game Glenwood grabbed 16 steals.

“I thought the girls did a nice job on the defensive side, that’s quite honestly what helped us score tonight because we kind of struggled on offense,” said Glenwood coach Brian Rasmussen. “We had a lot of second chance opportunities, and the turnovers were kind of the name of the game for us to get some buckets. We had some fall but it was really the defensive effort that got us this win.”

Haylee Hughes’ putback handed the Rams a 28-8 lead with 4:24 to go in the first half. The lead expanded to 32-10 at intermission.

Red Oak coach Carter Bruce said his team had trouble adjusting to the Rams’ aggressive defense.

“They’re fast, they’re quick and they run the floor really nicely – they have a bunch of cross country girls – and they’re deep,” said Red Oak coach Carter Bruce of the Rams. “I thought we came out a little better the last couple games than we have but we have to maintain that and keep going.”

Glenwood didn’t have a great shooting night – 28.2 percent – but dominated the second chance points with 24 offensive rebounds. Rebounding has been a point of emphasis for Rasmussen the last half of the season.

“We keep climbing the ladder in the state, not that we put too much focus on stats but that’s how team’s measure themselves and we haven’t been very good at that,” Rasmussen said. “But we keep getting better each night on both ends of the court.”

Bruce liked how his team held up defensively, despite the early hole. Their energy never made it easy for the Rams.

“We switched to a new defense a few days ago, a defense I love, and they really wanted to do it,” Bruce said of the 1-3-1 zone he ran off and on during the game. “It gives them a little bit if confidence and allows them to show their abilities but it’s a tough defense and its gets tiring and as they game went on, we could see that.”

Maggie McChesney led Glenwood with 21 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Hughes added 13 points and five rebounds.

Ellison Johnson scored 11 of the Tigers first 16 points and finished her night with a team-high 15.

Glenwood 41,

Riverside 28 

Glenwood knocked off Class 2A, No. 6 ranked Riverside 41-28 in nonconference girls basketball last Tuesday.

 The Rams led 15-12 at the half and blew the game open with a 21-10 third quarter snap the Bulldogs’ 12 game winning streak. The 28 points were a season low.

“This was probably one of our best defensive games of the year,” said Glenwood coach Brian Rasmussen. “Not only was it solid defense but we really brought a physical game that frustrated them. They have really good guards and a really good post, and I thought really made them work.”

Maggie McChesney scored 17 points and Malynn Johnson seven to lead Glenwood.

Sydney Somers scored 13 to lead Riverside.