One final Lakes Conference test awaited the Spirit Lakes girls and boys basketball teams Friday night, and both proved worthy of the challenge in sweeping a doubleheader at Storm Lake. The Indians regained their outside shooting touch, routing the Tornadoes 68-33 in the girls contest. Spirit Lake matched a season-high with ten made 3-pointers, including six in the third quarter. KJ Veldman connected on three from downtown as part of a 24-point night. Fellow junior Alissa Christoffer was red-hot from outside, hitting 5-of-8 attempts to reach 17 points. The Indians finish the regular in third place in the league with a 10-4 record, while going 16-5 overall. They host Algona on Wednesday in the first round of the Class 3A Regionals, and KUOO will provide the coverage.
Click here for the postgame interview with coach Rick Reinking.
In the nightcap, Spirit Lake trailed by as much as 14 in the second half, but rallied in the fourth quarter to outscore the Tornadoes 18-5 and escape with a five-point victory, 52-47. The Indians used a 14-for-19 effort at the free throw line to clinch the win, and sole possession of third place in the conference standings. Sawyer Harms led all scorers with 18 points, making seven baskets. Paul Brown was perfect at the free throw stripe on five attempts en route to thirteen points, and Wes Bergquist added ten points. Storm Lake, which buried seven shots from outside the arc, had three in double figures. Aaron Krier finished with thirteen points, followed by Pel Deng’s dozen points, and Trey O’Brien pitched in with ten points. Spirit Lake ends the conference schedule at 9-5, and takes a 13-7 record into the regular season finale Thursday against Sioux City, West.
Click here for the postgame interview with coach Nate Loenser.
In one final regular test, the Raiders of Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire went to Newell-Fonda to battle Mustangs in a non-conference boys’ matchup. The Raiders would suffer a 76-48 setback, placing their overall record at 5-15 this season. GT/RA hosts Clay Central-Everly on Monday in the opening round of the Class 1A District tournament.
The Siouxland Conference wrapped up its regular season with four boys games on Friday. League champion MOC-Floyd Valley had its toughest test of the year, winning in overtime at Sioux Center, 76-72. The Dutch host Spencer in the Class 3A Districts on February 20, which can be heard on Y100. Sheldon ran away from Central Lyon, winning 66-48. Fifth-ranked Boyden-Hull had no troubles at George-Little Rock, taking a 71-38 ballgame. And West Lyon dominated Rock Valley, 82-48. The Wildcats will host Okoboji on Monday for the first round of the Class 2A District tourney and KUOO will be there.
Elsewhere, South O’Brien fell by three in War Eagle play, losing 47-44 at LeMars Gehlen Catholic. The Wolverines finish out with a 17-4 record.
North of the border, Jackson County Central swept a doubleheader of high school hoops over Pipestone. The Huskies won 65-44 in the girls’ game, followed by a 71-55 victory for the boys. Fairmont picked up a pair of wins over New Ulm, as the girls defended the home floor with a 52-29 triumph and the boys winning on the road, 73-63. Also in boys basketball, Worthington topped Maple River, 71-63, while on the girls side, Southwest Star Concept lost 50-36 to Ellsworth.
