Trailing the #10 team in the state by nine points after one quarter, Spirit Lake regrouped to dominate the next three quarters of play against Storm Lake to earn a 59-37 upset win on Friday night. The Indians outscored the Tornadoes by nine in the second quarter to pull even at the half, then pulled away with differentials of eight and 14 points over the next two quarters. Wes Bergquist went for a career-high 18 points, hitting two baskets from beyond the arc. Sawyer Harms and Paul Brown each finished with thirteen points. Spirit Lake completed 9-of-10 free throws in the fourth quarter. The Tornadoes had two players in double-figures, with Trey O’Brien scoring twelve points and Aaron Krier ten. Storm Lake falls to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the Lakes Conference. Spirit Lake sits at 3-1 on the year and 1-1 in the league, with a home matchup against Cherokee on the schedule next. That game can be heard Tuesday on KUOO Campus Radio.
Click here for the postgame interview with coach Nate Loenser.
A tight ballgame throughout in LeMars wound up with the Bulldogs grabbing a 66-63 victory over visiting Emmetsburg. A trio of Bulldogs scored in double-digits, led by Austin Homan’s 18 points. Jake Jackson scored a game-high 22 points for the E-Hawks, while Ryan Kliegl had 15 points and Zach Overberg finished with twelve. Emmetsburg will host Harris-Lake Park on Monday. That matchup can be heard on Q102. The E-Hawks will enter at 2-1 on the season.
In other Lakes Conference games, Spencer ran away from Estherville-Lincoln Central, taking a 53-27 win. Western Christian routed Cherokee, 73-31.
Okoboji ventured into Orabs country seeking their first win, but stumbled to a 55-33 setback in Sheldon on Friday. Dalton Poppema was the top scorer, reaching twelve points for the Pioneers. Winless through five games this season, and 0-4 in conference games, Okoboji gets back at it on Monday at Central Lyon.
Click here for comments from coach Ryan Paulsen.
Elsewhere in the Siouxland, George-Little Rock got by Rock Valley, 72-61. MOC-Floyd Valley earned a 65-54 win against Sibley-Ocheyedan.
Harris-Lake Park cruised to another easy win in the Cornbelt Conference, topping CWL by 35 points, 77-32. The Wolves led 56-14 at the half on their home floor. Eli Ihnen paced HLP with a season-high 27 points. Brady Nissen dropped in 15 points and Tanner Hiveley contributed a dozen more points. Harris-Lake Park is off to a 2-0 start in league games, and will put their perfect 4-0 record on the line Monday at Emmetsburg in a non-conference game that can be heard on Q102.
Click here for comments from coach Jeff Sohn.
In the War Eagle, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn found themselves on the winning end of a 41-37 road game at Remsen Saint Mary’s. The Hawks are even at 2-2 this winter and 1-1 in the conference. A home game with Hinton is next on Tuesday. Also, South O’Brien topped Hinton, 57-53.
Other area games saw Manson NW Webster take down Sioux Central, 55-45.
North of the border, Jackson County Central lost to Luverne, 65-60, suffering their third straight loss to start the season. Murray County Central defeated Round Lake-Brewster, 71-35, and Southwest Star Concept edged out Red Rock Central, 57-55.
