Just as the Okoboji Pioneers did a year ago, Spirit Lake took both contests of the annual Spirit Lake/Okoboji showdown in exciting fashion on Saturday.
BOYS
Mitch Peschon scored 15 to lead the homestanding Indians but it was another junior in Taylor Acton coming off the bench to score 11, his best effort of the season, bolstering the Indians to a 49-45 win. The Pioneers led by 13 midway through the 2nd quarter but a 10-2 run to close the half brought the Indians to within four at the break. The teams tied four times and the lead changed hands seven times over the course of the contest. With the game deadlocked at 43 with 2:30 left, the Indians would get to the free throw line late and walk away with the four-point win. Spirit Lake went plus eight at the foul stripe over Okoboji, going 19-27 from the line.
Bill Burgduff led the Pioneers with 15 while Matt Baschke, in just his second game back from injury, put home a dozen points. Okoboji (1-11, 0-9 Siouxland) looks for its first conference win on Tuesday, hosting Sioux Center. Spirit Lake (6-8, 1-6 Lakes Conference) hosts Spencer.
GIRL
The Spirit Lake Indians looked up at the scoreboard and were down 13-3 after one quarter. But the hosts used two 10-0 runs in the contest to take the lead in the 3rd quarter and hold off the Okoboji Pioneers for a 50-36 win. Chelsie Stettnichs led all scorers with 14 points, pacing the Indians who have now won three straight after back-to-back losses.
The Pioneers got 13 from Brandi DeMuth and nine from Paisley Jones but the rest of the team combined for just six field goals.
This game had a bit wider of a margin at the end of the contest, being decided by 14 points. The previous three meetings were decided by a combined 14 points. Okoboji (5-8, 3-7 Siouxland) will host Sioux Center on Tuesday, while Spirit Lake (12-3, 6-2 Lakes Conference)takes on the Tigers of Spencer.
