The Dike-New Hartford basketball teams will play their first NICL-Central games of the season when they visit Denver Tuesday.
The Wolverine girls (2-1) have picked up momentum with two dominant wins after a season-opening loss. However, the new-look team will face possibly their biggest test yet against the #8 (2A) Cyclones.
“They have a lot of experience from last year,” Head Coach Matt Dove says. “If you look at their roster, they’ve got a lot of tall, athletic players that, just there in itself presents a challenge, but then they’ve also got some pretty good basketball players too. I know our girls are looking forward to the challenge. They look forward to playing in tough games, and they also understand that playing in this league, that’s going to be the reality night in and night out.”
Denver has won their first three games, but the margins have been by three, two and four points against Crestwood, Grundy Center and Jesup. Channing Johnson and Grace Mullihan each score just over 11 points per game.
The Dike-New Hartford boys (1-1) have close game experience, with a two-point win over East Marshall and a three-point loss to Wapsie Valley to begin the season. Colin Meester has been a dynamic scorer, ranking second in the Central at 24.5 points per game.
Denver (2-1) has four players averaging in double figures, led by 17.0 points per game by Talan Lafrentz.
The doubleheader will begin at 6:15 p.m.
