The AHSTW Boys’ Basketball team won its first game of the season in a 60-48 back and forth battle with ACGC. A game in which both teams were starving for a victory after difficult starts to the year. The Vikings came out of the gate with a hot hand from three by leading scorer Collin Harder and a clinic of offensive rebounding to boost AHSTW to a five-point lead after the first quarter. Soon after, ACGC put their foot down with 19 second quarter points with the ability to spread the wealth as seven different Chargers scored in the second quarter. A three-point lead into the locker room was next to nothing for the Chargers, as it seemed every point scored in the third quarter there was a lead change. ACGC’s Tommy Skram knocked down two of his four threes in the third but countered by AHSTW’s guys in the paint in Dayton Osbahr and Parker Krohn. A one-point lead for AHSTW as the fourth quarter began was plenty because the Vikings ran away with the game in the end. A nine-point fourth quarter from AHSTW guard Evan Harder fueled the Vikings to the 12-point win.

A game that both teams felt they needed to win to get that confidence began with two sharpshooting threes from Senior Collin Harder. ACGC countered with Senior Tommy Skram hitting one of his four threes he made throughout the game quickly in the first. Early in the game, AHSTW boxed out tremendously and gave their team several chances to score on second chance opportunities. The inability for ACGC to rebound gave the Vikings’ big guys down low a pair of baskets and take a 12-7 lead into the second quarter.

ACGC made the adjustments necessary to begin the second quarter as the jump shots began to fall for the Chargers. Skram had another five points to put him at ten for the half while the bench played a massive role to give ACGC their first lead of the game. The Chargers were able to keep Collin Harder scoreless in the second, but the Vikings adjusted. Evan Harder hit a three for AHSTW as well as buckets from Drew Lee, Ty Nelson and Krohn. Just an eleven-point second quarter for AHSTW had the Vikings trailing 26-23 at half.

In the third, it was back and forth, lead change after lead change. AHSTW’s offensive rebounding became pivotal once again as Krohn and Osbahr were able to scoop up rebounds for second chance points. Meanwhile on the ACGC side, Skram found his rhythm again. The Senior Point Guard hit two more threes in the quarter and was the only quarter all five starting Chargers put up points. It was just a one-point lead for AHSTW heading to the fourth at 39-38.

AHSTW’s big guys flexed their muscles in the fourth quarter as they were still problematic for ACGC’s ability to grab rebounds. Evan Harder’s ability to drive to the rim and score was a key factor as he had nine fourth quarter points. ACGC funneled into desperation mode by shooting contested threes to get back into the game late. AHSTW’s poise and good decision making led to a 60-48 home victory for their first win of the season.

AHSTW Head Coach G.G. Harris says the performance down low was the key.

Timing and precision was everything in AHSTW’s gameplan.

The coaching staff hammered the importance of second chance opportunities.

AHSTW returns home Friday night in a matchup with Panorama while AHSTW hosts Riverside Tuesday night. The Riverside and AHSTW doubleheader can be heard on KJAN and seen on KJANTV with coverage beginning at 5:50 P.M.