The Okoboji boys basketball team opened the 2011-2012 season with a hard-fought setback on the road Tuesday night, falling 72-48 at Sioux Center in Siouxland Conference play. The Pioneers received a team-high twelve points from junior Dalton Poppema, and fellow junior Mark Nielsen also reached double-digits with ten points. Okoboji starts the season 0-1 and will travel to county rival Harris-Lake Park on Thursday, a matchup to be aired on KUOO Campus Radio.
Click here for comments from coach Ryan Paulsen.
Elsewhere in the Siouxland Conference, Sibley-Ocheyedan went on the road to defeat George-Little Rock 53-41, Boyden-Hull narrowly got by Sheldon 49-46, MOC-Floyd Valley opened defense of their 2010 conference championship with a 69-55 victory over West Lyon, and Central Lyon had little trouble with Rock Valley in a 72-46 contest.
It was an impressive start to the new season for the Wolves of Harris-Lake Park, as they dominated Estherville-Lincoln Central, 61-37. Three players scored in double-figures for HLP, led by Brady Nissen’s 23 points. Eli Ihnen was right behind with 20 points, and Tanner Hiveley pitched in with eleven points. The Wolves will go for win number two with an inter-county showdown Thursday against Okoboji, a game that will air on KUOO Campus Radio. The Midgets will host Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire on Saturday.
Click here for comments from coach Jeff Sohn.
The season officially opened Tuesday night for the new co-op program of Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire, though it would come with a 49-37 loss at West Bend-Mallard in Cornbelt Conference play.
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn needed just one try to grab their first win of the winter basketball season, defending their home court with a 60-38 defeat of Clay Central-Everly. Senior Matt Queck led all scorers with 19 points for the Hawks. Cade Harvey notched eleven and Matt Akwa tallied ten points. The Mavericks received a 17-point effort from Jared Schoelerman, with Tyler Shuck contributing a dozen points. HMS will open War Eagle Conference play on Friday with a home game against Remsen-Union.
Click here for the postgame interview with HMS coach Steve Raymond.
Other games around the area Tuesday night included Emmetsburg taking a 66-45 road win in game number one at Pocahontas Area/Pomeroy-Palmer. The E-Hawks begin Lakes Conference play next Tuesday against Estherville-Lincoln Central. Spencer out-played Sioux Central in a non-conference showdown as the Tigers beat the Rebels 66-47. Storm Lake starts the year 1-0 with a 67-54 victory against Sioux City North, while Sergeant Bluff-Luton handed Cherokee a 59-48 setback.
