STORM LAKE—West Bend-Mallard boys’ basketball team picked up their first victory of the season on Friday, Dec. 8 with 58-16 Twin Lakes Conference road win over the Storm Lake St. Mary’s Panthers.

The purple-and-gold connected on 25 of 66 overall field goals for 37.8 percent, made two of 11 three-pointers for 18.1 percent and sank six of 16 free throw attempts for 37.5 percent.

ALGONA—Algona won the final two matches to rally for an exciting 38-36 win over the Humboldt Wildcats on Thursday, Dec. 7 in the North Central Conference boys’ wrestling opener for both clubs.

Trailing 36-29, the red-and-black got a 2-0 decision from Gavin Goche and win by forfeit by Cohen Reffer to pull out a key early season conference victory.

WEST BEND—The West Bend-Mallard Wolverine boys’ wrestling team hosted their first meet of the season but were handed three losses on Thursday, Dec. 7.

The purple-and-gold was topped by Manson Northwest Webster 48-33; lost a close 42-36 decision to Colfax-Mingo and fell to Sioux Central by the score of 57-24.

FOREST CITY—North Union remained undefeated on the year with a big 49-46 Top of Iowa Conference boys’ basketball road victory on Tuesday, Dec. 5 over the Forest City Indians.

Thegreen-black-and-silver jumped  out to a 12-7 lead at the end of the first period and took a 22-15 advantage to the locker room at intermission. The Warriors held a narrow 33-32 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

SIOUX RAPIDS—North Union defeated West Bend-Mallard 60-21 in the first meeting of the two boys’ wrestling teams this season on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

The green-black-and-silver also defeated Sioux Central 36-30 but fell to Pocahontas Area 42-36 while the Wolverines topped Pocahontas Area 42-36 and lost to Sioux Central by the score of 54-24.

NORTHWOOD—A strong second half led the North Union Warrior girls’ basketball squad past the Northwood-Kensett Vikings by the score of 52-47 on Monday, Dec. 11.

North Union led 11-7 at the conclusion of the first period before a strong second stanza by the home team gave them a 28-25 advantage at intermission.

Ainsley Ulrich and Naomi Jones both poured in a game-high 16 points and were joined in double figures by Libby Stevens with 11 points.

EAGLE GROVE—Seventh-ranked Bishop Garrigan did not allow a point in both the first and third quarters in a 64-15 Top of Iowa Conference girls’ basketball victory over the Eagle Grove Eagles on Friday, Dec. 8.

The black-and-gold enjoyed a 25-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and took a 38-12 advantage to the locker room at halftime. The visitors held a commanding 55-12 lead heading into the fourth quarter of action.

NEWELL—In a rematch of last spring’s Class 1A state championship game, second-ranked Newell-Fonda handed seventh-rated Bishop Garrigan their first loss of the season on Thursday, Dec. 7 by the final score of 72-51 in non-conference girls’ basketball action.

The Mustangs galloped out to an early 12-0 advantage, holding the black-and-gold scoreless for the first 5:27 of the contest and led 17-4 at the end of the first stanza.

FOREST CITY—Algona built a big lead early and never looked back cruising to a 68-49 non-conference boys’ basketball victory over the Forest City Indians on Thursday, Dec. 7.

The visitors jumped out to a 19-9 lead at the conclusion of the first period and held a 28-21 advantage at halftime. The Bulldogs increased that lead to 54-37 heading into the final eight minutes of action.

NEWELL—Bishop Garrigan raced out a big lead early and never looked back in 84-55 non-conference boys’ basketball victory over the Newell-Fonda Mustangs on Thursday, Dec. 7.

The black-and-gold led 25-12 after a big first quarter and increased their advantage to 43-23 at halftime. The visitors also held a comfortable 60-44 lead heading into the final period of action.

NORTHWOOD—A long road trip did not slow down the undefeated North Union Warrior boys’ basketball team as the squad defeated the Northwood-Kensett Vikings by the final score of 77-63 on Monday, Dec. 11.

The green-black-and-silver improved to 6-0 overall on the year and is 3-0 in Top of Iowa Conference battles while the Vikings fell to 2-3 on the season.

SIBLEY—Crowning a pair of individual champions, the North Union Warriors’ wrestling team placed third with 194 points at the Sibley-Ocheyedan Invitational held on Saturday, Dec. 9.

Jackson Hutchinson pinned three opponents to place first at 132 pounds for the green-black-and-silver while teammate by fall five times to take the title at 150 pounds on Saturday.

ALGONA—Wrestling on the home mat for the first time in 2023-2024, the Algona Bulldog girls’ wrestling squad topped the Humboldt Wildcats by the final score of 48-36 on Thursday, Dec. 7.

The red-and-black won the meet on the strength of falls as the team recorded a total of eight pins during the evening of matches.

Registering falls for the Bulldogs were Mara Davis at 100 pounds, Harley Tobin at 105, Laura Stohr at 115 pounds and Malyn Davis at 120.

HUMBOLDT—A pair of West Bend-Mallard Wolverine girls’ wrestlers competed at the Michelle Jensen Memorial held here on Monday, Dec. 11.

The purple-and-gold scored 15 points to finish in ninth place in the team standings as Humboldt took the team title with a team score of 189 points.

Kasey Douglas finished in third place at 145 pounds for the Wolverines while teammate Ariella Peterson went 3-2 at 135 pounds, including three falls to place fourth at that weight class.

LAKE MILLS—North Union went on the road for a Top of Iowa Conference wrestling quadrangular held here on Thursday, Dec. 7.

The green-black-and-silver fell to Central Springs 42-31 before losing to Lake Mills 63-12 but rebounded to defeat Saint Ansgar 54-22 to end the evening.