Fifth-ranked Harris-Lake Park took another step towards a second-consecutive Cornbelt Conference title, as well as an undefeated regular season, with a 49-28 triumph at North Sentral Kossuth/Armstrong-Ringsted on Friday. Brady Nissen led with 14 points, while Eli Ihnen and Tanner Hiveley each scored ten points. The Wolves, with five games remaining, are perfect through 15 games overall and eight in conference. HLP travels to CWL for a make-up game on Monday.
Click here for postgame comments from coach Jeff Sohn.
Also in the Cornbelt, Ruthven-Ayrshire/Graettinger-Terril went out of the league schedule to battle Trinity Christian, but returned home with a lopsided 70-24 setback. The loss runs the Raiders’ losing streak to four straight, and their overall record drops to 4-12. They host Harris-Lake Park next week Friday for a rivalry showdown on Q102.
Spirit Lake rallied to within a basket late in the third quarter against Western Christian before running out of offensive fire power in a 52-41 home loss in Lakes Conference play. The Wolfpack closed the door on the Indians by going 7-of-9 from the free throw line in the final quarter. Sawyer Harms powered his way to a game-high 17 points on eight field goals. Three players were in double figures for Western Christian, with JD Boer scoring 15 points. The win pushes Western Christian to 9-2 in the Lakes, and the loss drops Spirit Lake to a 6-4 record. The Indians head to Estherville-Lincoln Central Tuesday for a game on KUOO.
Click here for the postgame interview with coach Nate Loenser.
Tied at 63, Storm Lake’s Trey O’Brien converted a put-back of his own miss as the buzzer sounded to hand the Tornadoes a two point win at Emmetsburg, 65-63. The senior finished with a game-high 18 points and Storm Lake advances their league record to 6-4. The E-Hawks, who won every quarter but the last, received a 14-point effort from Marcus Akridge. Emmetsburg, at 3-7 in conference play, will try to get to .500 overall with a home game against Sioux Central on Saturday.
Estherville-Lincoln Central continues their improved season, winning at Cherokee in a close, one-point game, 58-57. The Midgets are 3-8 in conference outings. And for the tenth time in as many games, LeMars wins in league play, defeating Spencer handily, 66-38. The Tigers are 5-6 in conference and host Storm Lake on Tuesday.
Okoboji seized momentum early against Central Lyon, building a nine point advantage in the second quarter, however, the Lions responded with a 17-0 run to close the half. The Pioneers fall 64-49 despite Dalton Syverson dropping in 17 points on eight field goals. The junior battled all night with Ross Ackerman inside, and the senior for the Lions finished with 21 points, one of three players in double digits for the visitors. Central Lyon has six wins to eight losses in the Siouxland Conference. Okoboji remains at one win to thirteen losses and will try to snap a six-game losing streak at Rock Valley on Tuesday.
Click here for the postgame interview with coach Ryan Paulsen.
Other Siouxland games included Sioux Center topping Sibley-Ocheyedan, 76-58. Rock Valley upended Sheldon, 63-50. Boyden-Hull out-paced West Lyon, 57-39. And MOC-Floyd Valley wins their 17th straight, a 76-44 victory over George-Little Rock.
On the War Eagle schedule, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn ends a two-game skid with a resounding 53-32 triumph over Akron-Westfield. The Eagles are 3-5 in conference. SouthO’Brien downed Spalding Catholic with ease, 76-41.
North of the border, Fairmont lost to St. Peter, 77-44, and Worthington had no answers for Redwood Valley, falling 65-56.
