#1 HWC Wolfpack blasts Braves, 70-45

The Cherokee Braves couldn't overcome a deep hole they dug in the first quarter, and as a result they dropped a 70-45 game to the #1 Hull Western Christian recruits in Lakes Confeence boys basketball action here Tuesday night.

Cody Ege of Cherokee battles inside to get a shot off against Hull Western Christian defender Bryce Groeneweg in baslketball action Tuesday night in Cherokee. Photo by Reta Todd [Click to enlarge]

The Wolfpack exploded early, storming to a 24-8 lead after one period, and kept the foot on the pedal in the second frame to race out to a 44-20 halftime bulge.

Brock Dagel paced the Cherokee scoring with 15 points, while Kyle Schuck added seven points and a team-high six rebounds against the taller HWC boys.

Tyler Wolterstorff led the Wolfpack with 22 points, and Dustin Douma tallied 16 points.

Cherokee's high-flying Nick Parker takes a lay-up to the basket agains Hull Western Christian's Bryce Groeneweg in Lakes Conference basketball action Tuesday in Cherokee. Photo by Reta Todd [Click to enlarge]

The 3-2 Braves sank 19-51 field goals for 37 percent, including a 2-13 effort from the three-point line. Cherokee was 5-11 from the free throw line.

HWC made 25-41 shots for a torrid 61 percent, including 8-17 three-pointers. The winners were 12-17 from the free throw line.

"Hull Western came out shooting the ball very well and hit 6-7 three-pointers in the first half to build a big lead," noted Cherokee coach Bob Lee. "We worked hard defensively in the third quarter and forced seven turnovers, but we missed some good looks on our offensive end and just weren't able to cut into the lead that much.

"I was very proud of the effort our guys showed. It would have been real easy to give up once they started so hot, but our guys kept fighting until the end."

The Cherokee teams play at Spirit Lake Friday night before the holiday break.