PCM used the 14-point second-quarter spurt to build a 29-13 lead and the Mustangs went on to hand the Hawks their second straight Heart of Iowa Conference loss, 67-54.

“We didn’t play great by any means, but one bad quarter sunk us,” South Hamilton head coach Matt Juber said.

PCM (9-5, 6-3 HOIC) packed in a zone defense and limited South Hamilton leading scorer Cade Balvanz to just four points. Perimeter players Doran Lutjen (16 points), Quinton Grove (13 points) and Freddie Lewis (12 points) combined for 41 points, but they weren’t enough.

“We are going to continue to see the packed in zones trying to take away Balvanz and that right now is our kryptonite,” Juber said. “I think the positive that comes out … is that in the second half we proved that we can knock down shots and find ways to beat the zone.”

Grove also supplied nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Balvanz ripped down seven rebounds.

Gatlin Boell made five 3-pointers and led PCM with 22 points. Jason Stafford poured in 18 and Derek Brown finished with 15.

The loss dropped South Hamilton (7-4, 6-2 HOIC) out of the top spot in the HOIC standings. The Hawks sit a game behind Gilbert.

PCM 67, South Hamilton 54

Friday at Monroe

South Hamilton (7-4, 6-2 HOIC) — Brock Galetich 2 0-1 5, Aaron Hegland 0 0-0 0, Carter Hewitt 0 0-0 0, Tycin Barkema 1 0-2 2, Doran Lutjen 6 0-0 16, Quinton Grove 5 2-2 13, Freddie Lewis 3 3-4 12, Kyler Hodnefield 1 0-0 2, Cade Balvanz 2 0-1 4. Totals: 20 5-10 54.

PCM (9-5, 6-3 HOIC) — Sage Burns 0 0-0 0, Jason Stafford 6 5-6 18, Andrew Mitchell 2 3-4 9, Gatlin Boell 5 7-8 22, Durant VanDyke 1 1-2 3, Grant Landgrebe 0 0-0 0, Derek Brown 6 3-4 15. Totals: 20 19-24 67.

S. Ham. 11 2 19 22 — 54

PCM 13 19 15 23 — 67

3-point field goals — SH 9 (Lutjen 4, Lewis 3, Galetich, Grove); PCM 8 (Boell 5, Mitchell 2, Stafford). Rebounds — SH 32 (Grove 9, Balvanz 7). Steals — SH 5 (Grove 2). Assists — SH 12 (Grove 4). Turnovers — SH 15. Team fouls — SH 18, PCM 13. Fouled out — none.

SH GIRLS LET ONE SLIP AWAY: A seven-minute scoreless spurt in the third quarter doomed the South Hamilton girls’ basketball team in a 38-32 Heart of Iowa Conference loss to PCM Friday night in Monroe.

PCM (6-8, 4-5 HOIC) outscored the Hawks 13-4 in the third period to take a 31-25 lead and it never relinquished the advantage over the final eight minutes.

“This was definitely a game that we could have won,” South Hamilton head coach Mark Henderson said. “We gave away too many possessions with carless turnovers and that cost us.

“They came out in the third quarter and pressed us and we did not handle it well.”

South Hamilton (5-7, 3-5 HOIC) owned a 21-18 halftime lead, thanks in large part to a 13-7 second-quarter run.

Hallee Feaker scored eight points, and Hailey Diersen provided seven points, seven rebounds and two assists in the loss. Aneesa Balderas chipped in five points, while three other Hawks — Emma Lewis, Caleigh Hewitt and Aspen Wibholm — finished with four points.

Regan Freland led PCM and all scorers with 18 points.

“Regan Freland is one of the top players in our conference and she pretty much single-handedly beat us,” Henderson said.

PCM 38, South Hamilton 32

Friday at Monroe

South Hamilton (5-7, 3-5 HOIC) — Emma Lewis 2 0-0 4, Hailey Diersen 2 3-6 7, Hallee Feaker 3 0-2 8, Brookelyn George 0 0-0 0, Aneesa Balderas 2 0-0 5, Caleigh Hewitt 2 0-1 4, Aspen Wibholm 2 0-0 4, Mackenzy Grady 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 3-9 32.

PCM (6-8, 4-5 HOIC) — Sierra Foster 1 0-0 2, Paige Steenhoek 0 3-4 3, Emma George 0 0-4 0, Celeste Wagaman 0 0-0 0, Lilli Baird 3 0-2 7, Regan Freland 8 1-2 18, Riley Hjortshoj 0 0-2 0, Kate McCarthy 4 0-2 8. Totals: 16 4-16 38.

S. Ham. 8 13 4 7 — 32

PCM 11 7 13 7 — 38

3-point field goals — SH 3 (Feaker 2, Balderas); PCM 2 (Baird, Freland). Rebounds — SH 23 (Diersen 7, Lewis 5). Steals — SH 5 (Grady 2). Assists — SH 5 (Diersen 2). Turnovers — SH 19, PCM 14. Fouled out — SH: Feaker.

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