Hawks advance with 72-65 win over L-M

DONNELLSON – The Central Lee Hawks had four players in double figures Monday night as they advanced through the first round of Class 2A Substate 4, District 7 action with a 72-65 win over Louisa-Muscatine in Donnellson.
The Hawks advance to face West Burlington (19-0), which got a bye in the first round, on Thursday at 7 p.m at West Burlington.
Carson Morrison, a freshman who’s played in just three varsity games this season, was the Hawks' go-to guy on the perimeter connecting on all six of his 3-point attempts enroute to a team-high 19 points to lead Central Lee.
The Hawks got 15 points from Brayden Wyrick and 13 each from Owen Swan and Will Hayes. L-M’s Finnegan Cline led all scorers with 27 points.
In a tight and cool-shooting first period both teams combined for just 13 points with the Hawks holding a small 7-6 lead going into the second quarter, But the lid came off for Central Lee in the second quarter allowing them to pour in 29 points, including nine from Morrison and seven from Dante Merschman.
The nine-point first half lead at 36-25 proved to be enough as the Falcons outscored Central Lee 40-36 the rest of the way. Hayes had nine in the second half and Wyrick added eight all in the fourth quarter.
The Hawks held a 10 to 12 point lead throughout the second half. L-M would get its closest at 68-60 with two minutes left in the game.
Corey Jones had eight rebounds, three assists and five points on the night. Wyrick and Hayes each had seven rebounds and two blocks.
The Hawks are coming off a 64-51 win over Davis County on Thursday. Jones led the way in that game with 15 points. Wyrick had 13 and Morrison had 12. Swan was also in double figures with 11.
Central Lee almost pulled off the upset against undefeated West Burlington back on Jan. 23, but ended up losing by three 60-57 at home. The Hawks have won three of their last four heading into Wednesday’s Substate 4 quarterfinals. Also advancing in that bracket were Mediapolis, West Branch, Monticello, Beckman Catholic, Cascade and Northeast.
The winner of Wednesday’s game will face the winner of Mediapolis/West Branch at West Liberty High School on Tuesday.