EAGLE GROVE—Four players reached double figures scoring to lead the North Union Warrior girls’ basketball squad to their 14^th win of the season in a 65-36 Top of Iowa Conference victory over the Eagle Grove Eagles on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

Ainsley Ulrich led the green-black-and-silver in scoring with 20 points and was joined in double figures by Naomi Jones with as both Libby Stevens and Olivia Merrill tossing in 11 points.

WEST BEND—Manson Northwest Webster raced out to an 11-0 first quarter lead and never looked back in a 66-26 Twin Lakes Conference boys’ basketball victory on Tuesday, Jan. 30 over the West Bend-Mallard Wolverines.

The Cougars increased that first stanza advantage to 30-9 as the two teams went to the locker room at intermission and led 57-21 at the end of the third quarter.

ALGONA—For the first time in the school’s history, the Algona Bulldog boys’ wrestling team will compete in the Class 2A state dual meet tournament in Coralville.

The red-and-black earned that right on Tuesday, Jan. 30 with a 43-24 win over New Hampton/Turkey Valley and take a 23-2 dual meet record to the state tourney.

After dropping the opening match, Hunter Kollasch got a late takedown for an exciting 5-4 victory at 285 pounds to get the home team on the scoreboard.

NORTHWOOD—West Bend-Mallard defeated North Union 39-30 in a non-conference quadrangular meet held here on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

The Warriors also beat Northwood-Kensett 42-30 but fell to Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire 42-33 while the Wolverines lost to G-T/R-A 54-28 and Northwood-Kensett 37-36 via a tiebreaker.

CORALVILLE—Algona finished in eighth place in Class 2A in the state dual meet tournament held in Saturday, Feb. 3. It was the first time in the school’s history that the team has qualified for the event.

The red-and-black opened the day with a 32-24 loss to Mount Vernon. Brody Shipler and Elijah Wilhite earned falls in that match while Gavin Goche, Isaac Wilson, Tate Slagle and Teavyn Zinnel all won by decision.

By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

DES MOINES—Regional girls’ basketball pairings were released on Wednesday by the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union as the four area teams now know the teams that stand in the way of a trip to the state basketball tournament at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

BUFFALO CENTER—For the fifth consecutive season, the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bear girls’ basketball squad are the Top of Iowa Conference champions.

The black-and-gold wrapped up yet another crown on Monday, Feb. 5 with a 67-42 triumph over the North Iowa Lady Bison.

The Golden Bears led 18-8 at the end of the first period, took a 35-22 advantage at halftime and led 48-36 after three quarters of basketball.

POCAHONTAS—Algona led most of the game but could not pull away from a stubborn Pocahontas Area squad as the Bulldogs earned a 64-59 non-conference girls’ basketball victory over the Indians on Monday, Feb. 5.

Algona led 9-5 at the end of the first period and held a three-point advantage at 30-27 at halftime. The visitors also led 45-39 after three quarters of basketball.

By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

BOONE—Class 1A and 2A boys’ basketball pairings were released on Monday by the Iowa High School Athletic Association as the three area teams now know who stands between them and a trip to the state basketball tournament in Des Moines.

West Bend-Mallard (3-17) is the first area squad to hit the hardwood as the Wolverines will host North Iowa (2-18) on Friday, Feb. 9 in the top bracket of District No. 3.

BUFFALO CENTER—Sophomore Carter Schwab poured in a career-high 34 points to help lead the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bear boys’ basketball team to a 83-53 Top of Iowa Conference win over the North Iowa Bison on Monday, Feb. 5.

Schwab was successful on 12 of 18 overall field goals, including going eight of 13 behind the three-point line on the evening.

WEST BEND—Manson Northwest Webster outscored the West Bend-Mallard Wolverine girls’ basketball squad 7-2 in the final eight minutes to earn a narrow 35-33 Twin Lakes Conference victory on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

The visitors led 12-9 at the conclusion of the first stanza and took a 22-20 advantage to the locker room at intermission. West Bend-Mallard led 31-28 at the end of the third quarter before the Cougars rallied for the win.

ALGONA—Bishop Garrigan led early but Forest City controlled the final three quarters to earn a 53-40 Top of Iowa Conference boys’ basketball win over the black-and-gold on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

The home team led 10-7 at the end of the first quarter but trailed 22-19 at halftime and 46-29 going into the fourth period of action.

No Golden Bears reached double digits in the loss as Justin Bauer and Trayton Cink both led the way with nine points.

ALGONA—No. 13 (Class 3A) Forest City handed No. 6 (1A) Bishop Garrigan their first Top of Iowa Conference girls’ basketball loss in five years on Tuesday, Jan. 30 with a 58-50 win over the black-and-gold.

Two key factors in the win were turnovers and the free throw line as the Indians won the turnover battle 21-13 and doubled the home team at the foul line, sinking 15 of 25 charity shots and the Golden Bears went eight of 12.

EAGLE GROVE—One day after getting ranked for the first time in the school’s history, the North Union Warrior boys’ basketball team showed they deserved the honor.

The eighth-ranked Warriors cruised to a 78-45 Top of Iowa Conference victory over the Eagle Grove Eagles on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

The green-black-and-silver started fast in the contest by racing out to a 24-4 lead at the conclusion of the first stanza.

By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

SIOUX CITY—It was a very good day for the Algona Bulldog girls’ squad at the Region 2 super regional tournament held at the Tyson Events Center on Friday, Jan. 26.

The red-and-black had six young ladies qualify for the state tournament in Coralville, including three champions and placed second as team with a team score of 220 points, topped only by Ridge View’s total of 224.