Undefeated Harris-Lake Park methodically pulled away from rival Ruthven-Ayrshire/Graettinger-Terril on Friday, defeating the Raiders 56-36 in Cornbelt Conference play. Three players reached double digits offensively for the Wolves. Eli Ihnen was tops with 19 points, followed by Brady Nissen at thirteen points and Tanner Hiveley with ten points. Carter Williamson and Austin Dyer handled most of the scoring for RA/GT, dropping in eleven and ten points, respectively. The Raiders are 4-7 in the league and take a six-game losing streak into Tuesday contest at Clay Central-Everly. The Wolves are 19-0 overall and will put the finishing touches on their second-straight conference title when they host Ventura on Tuesday.
Click here for the postgame interview with coach Jeff Sohn.
Clay Central-Everly lost outside of conference play, dropping a 62-32 contest to Trinity Christian.
A two-point third quarter by Spirit Lake on Friday gave momentum to Emmetsburg, which the E-Hawks carried throughout the second half to a 57-46 road win in Lakes Conference boys basketball. Emmetsburg scored 19 points in each of the second half quarters. Jake Jackson scored 15 of his game-high 28 points in the third quarter. Ryan Kliegl finished with 16 points, scoring a dozen in the fourth quarter. Sawyer Harms paced the Indians on senior night with 16 points. Paul Brown dropped in eleven. The win is the third straight for Emmetsburg and puts the E-Hawks at 5-7 in conference with a non-league game at West Bend-Mallard set for Monday. Spirit Lake owns a league record of 7-5 and is at Spencer on Tuesday for a conference contest on KUOO.
Click here for the postgame interview with coach Nate Loenser.
Behind numerous dunks and 31 points by senior center Mading Thok, Western Christian pulled away from Spencer for a 78-52 decision in Hull. The Wolfpack had three others in double figures, while the Tigers got a team-high ten points from Tanner Morris. Spencer is 6-7 in the Lakes Conference and returns home Tuesday to battle Spirit Lake.
LeMars had few issues in locking up this year’s conference title on Friday, winning at Estherville-Lincoln Central, 69-23. The Midgets fall to 3-10 in league games and welcome Western Christian to town on Tuesday.
On the road against the fifth-ranked team in Class 1A, the Okoboji Pioneers struggled at Boyden-Hull on Friday and suffered a 77-38 defeat in Siouxland Conference play Friday. The Pioneers have two league games remaining, the first of which is against MOC-Floyd Valley on Tuesday and Q102 will provide the coverage.
The Dutch clinched a share of the league title with a lopsided win over Rock Valley, winning 86-27. Sibley-Ocheyedan tallied a fourth conference W by a 54-52 margin over Central Lyon. Sioux Center got by Sheldon, 57-52. And West Lyon narrowly won at George-Little Rock, 58-55.
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn hit the road for a 48-36 victory over Spalding Catholic. The Hawks, at 5-6 in the War Eagle Conference, take on Laurens-Marathon next Monday on Q102.
North of the border, Martin County West defeated Madelia, 60-48. Round Lake-Brewster fell to Westbrook-Walnut Grove, 73-50. Fairmont topped St. James with ease, 70-32. Worthington dominated Pipestone, 73-41. And in overtime, Southwest Star Concept fell to Hills-Beaver Creek, 70-65.
