By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

DES MOINES—Seniors Molly Joyce and Audi Crooks were selected to the first-team all-state team for the fourth straight season by a vote of the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association this past weekend by the sportswriters.

Golden Bear teammate Abbie Capesius was selected to the third team after a solid campaign as eight players were chosen to the three all-state squads.

*Xada Johnson Clear Lake 11

*Lexie Lane Clarion-Goldfield/Dows 12

*Morgan Mann Humboldt 10

Jordan Mayland Clear Lake 12

Lauren McLaughlin Algona 10

Ella Sharar Iowa Falls-Alden 11

*Denotes unanimous selection

Second Team

Brooklyn Eden Clear Lake 12

Lillian Etherington Algona 12

Ava Fischer Humboldt 9

Ayla Johnson Clear Lake 9

A’Lailah Perry Algona 12

Emma Anderson Forest City 11

Audi Crooks Bishop Garrigan 12

Naomi Jones North Union 11

Molly Joyce Bishop Garrigan 12

Addy Lamb Belmond-Klemme 10

Mallory Leerar West Hancock 11

Taylor Vanek Lake Mills 11

Player of the Year—Audi Crooks, Bishop Garrigan

Coach of the Year—Brandon Schwab, Bishop Garrigan

Second Team

Miriam Beenken North Iowa 11

Bishop Garrigan defeated Newell-Fonda behind a state tournament single game scoring record 49 points by Audi Crooks and claimed the Class 1A Girls State Basketball Tournament championship for the second consecutive season Saturday night, 68-57.

The Golden Bears trailed 13-8 after one quarter, but reclaimed control in the second period and grabbed a 33-26 lead at the half. It was a lead they maintained throughout the second half.

Class 1A Girls State Basketball Tournament
Algona Bishop Garrigan 67, Martensdale St. Marys 44

Audi Crooks has put big numbers throughout her career and her latest performance was more noteworthy than most.

Crooks scored 42 points to break the Class 1A tournament record and defending champion Algona Bishop Garrigan cruised past Martensdale-St. Marys 67-44 to start the quarterfinal round in their class.

By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

SPENCER—Algona pulled the biggest upset of the Class 3A sub-state tournament as the red-and-black shocked third-ranked MOC/Floyd Valley by the score of 61-58 on Monday, Feb. 27.

The Bulldogs built a lead as high as 13 points in the pivotal third quarter but the Dutchmen roared back in the final eight minutes to make things interesting.

By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

MASON CITY—Top-ranked Bishop Garrigan earned the right to defend their Class 1A state title on Thursday, Feb. 23 with a 76-41 win over No. 11 Riceville in the Region No. 1 championship contest.

The black-and-gold scored the first seven points of the game before building a double-digit lead. The Wildcats battled hard throughout the contest but could not get closer than 11 points at any point in the game.

By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

HUMBOLDT—The third time proved to the charm as the Algona Bulldog boys’ basketball team advanced to the Class 3A sub-state final by defeating the Humboldt Wildcats by the score of 70-64 on Thursday, Feb. 23.

The Wildcats had topped the red-and-black twice during the regular season, beating them by the score of 83-63 on Dec. 13 at Humboldt and 89-85 in Algona on Jan. 24.

CLEAR LAKE—Mason City Newman claimed the Class 1A, District No. 4 title with a hard-fought 65-57 victory over a stubborn North Union Warrior boys’ basketball team on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

The green-black-and-silver led just once in the contest at 3-2 early yet never trailed by more than ten points in the game.

The members of the Wahoo Swim Team that qualified for the state tournament are front from left, Allison Elbert, Amzie Peppmeier, Esme Mortensen, Brody Struecker and William Brantner; second row from left, Kinzee Thilges, Jacob Struecker, Austin Whitacre, Zachary Reemtsma and Liam Mostek; third row from left, Mada Steburg, Ella Welp, Brooke Ludwig and Kiera Frideres; back row from left, Jaxon Roberts, Jace Mortensen, Colin Roberts and Matt Besch.

Algona, 55 Points, 15^th Place, Class 2A

Tate Slagle, 3^rd Place, 138 Pounds

Jacob Zabka, 4^th Place, 113 Pounds

Barrett Morgan, 8^th Place, 126 Pounds

Issac Wilson, State Qualifier, 120 Pounds

Taevyn Zinnel, State Qualifier, 132 Pounds

Ashton Moreno, State Qualifier, 145 Pounds

By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

Zabka 4th, Morgan 8th for Bulldogs

DES MOINES—Tate Slagle placed third at 138 pounds to highlight the performances of seven Algona wrestlers at the Class 2A state wrestling tournament last week.

By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

ALGONA—It was definitely a tale of two different halves on Monday, Feb. 20 in the Class 3A sub-state opener between the Algona Bulldogs and Spencer Tigers as the home team held off a late Tiger run for a thrilling 51-49 victory.

By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

ESTHERVILLE—A young Algona Bulldog girls’ basketball squad battled hard but top-ranked and defending Class 3A state champions Estherville-Lincoln Central was too much as they defeated the Bulldogs 82-40 in the regional final on Saturday, Feb. 18.

ALGONA—Audi Crooks passed Iowa Hawkeye All-American Caitlyn Clark for fourth place on the all-time scoring list in leading the top-ranked Bishop Garrigan Golden Bear girls’ basketball squad to a 71-50 win over the Saint Ansgar Saints on Friday, Feb. 17.

The Class 1A regional semi-final contest saw the Golden Bear senior go over the 40-point mark for the sixth time this season as she poured in a game-high 44 points.