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It’s raining 3s

Lynx bury 12 triples, Wildcats by 10

Webster City junior guard Tyler Olson lines up a 3-pointer from the right corner during last night’s North Central Conference game against Humboldt inside the WCHS gymnasium. Olson buried one of the team’s 12 3-pointers and scored 13 points in the Lynx 63-53 victory. DFJ photo/Tracy Queen

WEBSTER CITY — Field goals from close range were hard to come by for the Webster City boys’ basketball team inside the WCHS gymnasium last night.

But outside the arc? Let’s just say it was raining 3s.

The Lynx cashed in on 12 3-point baskets to offset the measly six shots they connected on from inside the arc and made enough free throws to topple North Central Conference rival Humboldt, 63-53.

Drake Doering and Tavis Eklund both drained four 3-pointers, Tyler Olson knocked down two, and Ty McKinney and Carter Neuroth joined the party with one each.

“We’ve got guys that can shoot the ball,” WCHS head coach Marty McKinney said. “You can live by the 3 and die by the 3, and (last night) we lived by it, especially in the first half.”

WCHS senior point guard Carter Neuroth drives and kicks during last night’s conference clash against Humboldt. DFJ photo/Tracy Queen

Eklund led the way offensively with 15 points. Olson (13 points) and Doering (12 points) also reached double figures, while Ty McKinney (nine points) and Will Tasler (eight points) were close behind. Neuroth chipped in six more.

WCHS (7-2, 4-2 NCC), which has won two straight games and four of its last five, was without the services of sophomore forward Jamin Stuhr, who missed the contest due to an ankle injury he sustained in Tuesday’s win over Manson-Northwest Webster.

Without a second inside presence to help Tasler, the Lynx were forced to live on the perimeter. Eight of the 3s came in the opening half, which helped WCHS build a 35-23 edge at the intermission.

Eighteen of the team’s 23 first-quarter points came from long range. Eklund got hot early and knocked down three treys, while Doering canned two more.

McKinney says WCHS needs to find more balance and the return of Stuhr will help.

“We do need to find a balance and getting Jamin healthy is going to be a part of that, but you’ve also got to take what the defense gives you,” he said. “Humboldt works hard to keep you out of the paint, so there were a lot of kick-out opportunities.”

Jamison Heinz led Humboldt (6-5, 2-4 NCC) and all scorers with 21 points and Sam Fischer dropped in 14 in the paint.

McKinney feared Fischer, the team’s leading scorer on the season, would do much more damage, but he said Tasler was up to the challenge defensively and made the difference in the contest.

“Will’s defensive effort was just unbelievable,” he said. “Watching tape, I didn’t think we were going to be able to guard (Fischer) one on one, but Will was rock solid. We helped him very little and he really was the difference in the game.”

WCHS is scheduled to host Waverly-Shell Rock Saturday afternoon.

Webster City 63, Humboldt 53

Thursday at Webster City

Humboldt (6-5, 2-4 NCC) — Gabe Gidel 3 4-4 11, Jamison Heinz 8 4-8 21, Caden Matson 2 0-0 4, Jacob Thurm 0 0-0 0, Matt Miller 1 0-0 3, Sam Fischer 6 2-2 14, Caiden Baker 0 0-0 0, Ben Kuehnast 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 10-14 53.

Webster City (7-2, 4-2 NCC) — Ty McKinney 4 0-0 9, Drake Doering 4 0-2 12, Tavis Eklund 4 3-4 15, Tyler Olson 3 5-8 13, Carter Neuroth 1 3-6 6, Lincoln LaSourd 0 0-0 0, Will Tasler 2 4-9 8. Totals: 18 15-29 63.

Humboldt 11 12 11 19 — 53

Web City 23 12 9 19 — 63

3-point field goals — HUM 3 (Gidel, Heinz, Miller); WC 12 (Doering 4, Eklund 4, Olson 2, McKinney, Neuroth). Rebounds — WC 28 (Tasler 7, Olson 7). Assists — WC 14 (Neuroth 7). Turnovers — WC 13. Team fouls — HUM 19, WC 10. Fouled out — none.

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