HTC boys head into break with win

6-3 HEADED INTO THE BREAK

Do I wish we were 9-0 or 8-1, something like that? Yeah. But I’ll take 6-3, and I like how we’re playing heading into the break."”

John Hellige, HTC boys head coach

FORT MADISON - Holy Trinity’s boys basketball team is going to get a bit of a break. The next time the Crusaders will play will be in a new year.
OK, that sounds like a long time — it’s actually just two weeks — but it will feel that way to coach John Hellige.
The Crusaders defeated Clark County (Mo.) 61-34 on Tuesday night at Shottenkirk Gym in their last game before the holiday break. The next time Holy Trinity plays an official game will be a January 2 home game against Fairfield.
It’s been a grueling stretch to start the season for the Crusaders (6-3) that included four consecutive road games. Still, they’re in a rhythm now, so Hellige has scheduled a couple of scrimmage dates next week just to keep his team sharp.
And that’s why it was important that they play well on Tuesday.
“It was a little rough, but that’s what we figured it to be,” Hellige said. “I thought we had a few too many turnovers, but overall I liked the way we played.”
Holy Trinity was down 13-8 to start the game before going on a 16-0 run at the end of the first quarter and most of the second quarter. Clark County had just one field goal over the final 10 minutes of the first half.
“I thought we really picked up our defensive intensity in that stretch,” Hellige said. “Plus, I thought we started attacking their defense a little better, and we were getting into our transition game more.”
That defensive intensity continued into the second half. Holy Trinity allowed just five second-half field goals, with two of those coming in the final 1:38 of the game when the outcome had long been decided.
Luke Hellige led Holy Trinity with 24 points. Layne Rung and Conner Gehling each had 10 points. Adam Sobczak picked up his 250th career assist during the game.
Holy Trinity’s three losses in the first month of the season came on a last-second shot at West Burlington, in overtime to Mediapolis, and a home defeat against Winfield-Mount Union.
“I thought we were really tested, playing some of the best teams in the area and in the state,” John Hellige said. “Do I wish we were 9-0 or 8-1, something like that? Yeah. But I’ll take 6-3, and I like how we’re playing heading into the break."