Okoboji hung tough against Lakes Conference co-champion Estherville-Lincoln Central in Saturday’s girls Class 2A Regional opener, however, the Midgets backed their No. 2 state ranking by doubling up the Pioneers, 60-30. ELC led 16-8 after the first quarter, then outscored Okoboji by 15 in the second quarter to gain control on their home floor. The Pioneers’ Skylar Hansen registered a team-high ten points as Okoboji ends the season at 6-16 overall. Estherville-Lincoln Central had four players in double figures, UNI recruit Alyssa Johnson had a game-high 14 points, Allie Sievert dropped in 13 points, Sara Heywood finished at a dozen points, and Emily Kirchner reached ten points. The Midgets, at 21-2, advance to the quarterfinals where they will face North Sentral Kossuth/Armstrong-Ringsted in Estherville on Tuesday at 7:30pm.
The Eagles got through the first round by defeating Emmetsburg on the E-Hawks home floor, 46-35. Recent 1,000-point scorer Paige Naig ended her outstanding career with 18 points for Emmetsburg, which finishes with a final record of 9-13. NSK/AR built a double-digit advantage in the second quarter and got a game-high 25 points from Kelsey Gerhart. The Cornbelt Conference champions will put a 18-4 record on the line Tuesday in Estherville. The rest of that Class 2A Region 2 bracket saw West Fork take down Eagle Grove, 59-46, setting up a second-round meeting with Clarion-Goldfield, who snuck by Hampton-Dumont on the road, 54-53.
In Region 1, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn owned a one-point advantage over Sheldon at the half, but the Orabs would go on to win the second half by nine for a 47-39 win in Hartley. The Hawks were paced by Jessica Stofferan with 18 points, eleven of which came at the free throw line. Katie Mills pitched in with eleven points. HMS caps the season at 12-11 overall. Sheldon junior Abbie Provost led a balanced attack at 14 points and Crystal Rodger tallied ten points. With an 8-14 mark this year, the Orabs will play again in the regional quarterfinals against Sioux Central. The Rebels took down Pocahontas/Pomeroy-Palmer by a 44-16 margin, and will again play on their home floor on Tuesday.
Other Region 1 results include Sibley-Ocheyedan improving to 10-12 with a 50-29 decision over West Lyon. The Generals travel to Hull on Tuesday to play Western Christian after the Wolfpack dismantled Rock Valley, 88-31. South O’Brien’s season is done after falling at Unity Christian, 65-31. The Wolverines went 7-15 on the year. The Knights get to take on Cherokee in the second round. The Braves upended Sioux Center, 50-46.
