Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn failed to match Sioux Central’s balanced point production during a 67-49 loss at Sioux Rapids on Dec. 5.

Lance Berends scored 24 points and Kooper Ebel scored 12 to lead H-M-S, but the Rebels’ Jacob Hargens topped them both with 37. He also had help from two teammates who added 13 and 12 points, respectively.

The Hawks’ only other scoring was eight points by Keevyn Jacobsma, three by Landen Elwood and two by Travis Kamradt. Overall, H-M-S was 21-of-45 in shooting from the field (47 percent), and only 2-of-9 at the foul line.

Sioux Central’s 19-7 first-quarter lead set the tone. H-M-S cut the deficit to 31-22 by half time and that was the margin at the end of the third quarter. The Rebels then doubled the Hawks’ scoring in the fourth quarter to secure the non-conference win.

“We lost to a really good Sioux Central team,” Hawk coach Naet Hoaglund observed. “I thought we battled tough for the majority of the game. A couple of times we cut it to six or so, but we just couldn’t get enough stops and scores to overcome an early deficit.”

Ebel contributed 10 rebounds and four assists; Berends grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots; Kamradt dished out five assists; and Trenton Vollink and Jacobsma each had three rebounds.

Inconsistent defense also played a role in the Hawks’ first loss of the season.

“We struggled to get our transition game going because we weren’t able to get consistent stops on the defensive end,” Hoaglund noted. “We gave up some costly offensive rebounds that resulted in second chance points that were a key in the final score. Offensively we struggled to find our rhythm and attack the paint.”

This game was the only varsity action for either H-M-S team last week. The Dec. 9 girl/boy doubleheader with Remsen St. Mary’s has been rescheduled to Jan. 19.

Final games on the pre-Christmas schedule are a home doubleheader with Gehlen Catholic on Dec. 16 and a doubleheader at Unity Christian on Dec. 20.