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.

By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

ALGONA—For the first 17 minutes of the game on Friday, Jan. 26, the North Union Warriors had Bishop Garrigan on their heels building a lead as high as 13 points.

But veteran Golden Bear head coach Brandon Schwab had his team go to a full-court press that changed the flow of the contest and forced seven turnovers in the third quarter alone.

By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

ALGONA—Senior guard Preston Guerdet buried a three-pointer from the left wing with 2.9 seconds remaining to give the North Union Warrior boys’ basketball team to an exciting 53-50 Top of Iowa Conference win over the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bears on Friday, Jan. 26.

FORT DODGE—West Bend-Mallard stepped outside of Twin Lakes Conference girls’ basketball play on Thursday, Jan. 25 and earned a 46-30 non-conference win over the St. Edmond Gaels.

The purple-and-gold held a 13-6 advantage at the conclusion of the first period and increased their advantage at halftime. The visitors also led 38-25 after three quarters of play.

CLARION—Algona overcame an early 10-point deficit to rally for a 77-42 North Central Conference girls’ basketball victory over the Clarion-Goldfield/Dows Cowgirls on Thursday, Jan. 25.

The 11^th ranked Bulldogs trailed 12-2 early in the contest before taking a 20-15 lead at the end of the first period. The visitors led 32-22 at halftime and held a 55-37 advantage heading into the final eight minutes of action.

IOWA FALLS—Algona went on the road in North Central Conference boys’ basketball play on Friday, Jan. 26 and returned home to Algona after a 63-52 victory over the Iowa Falls-Alden Cadets.

Alex Manske poured in 21 points to lead the red-and-black, two more than teammate Ben Helmers with 19 points.

FORT DODGE—St. Edmond built a double digit first quarter lead and never looked back on Thursday, Jan. 25 in a 61-34 non-conference boys’ basketball victory over the West Bend-Mallard Wolverines.

Landon Montag was the only purple-and-gold player in double figures with 16 points as Abner Zaugg just missed with nine points.

ESTHERVILLE—Algona picked up three more non-conference wrestling dual wins to improve their season record to 21-2 overall on Tuesday, Jan. 23.

The red-and-black beat the Emmetsburg E-Hawks by the score of 45-18 before topping the Estherville-Lincoln Central Midgets 48-15 and ended the evening with a 69-12 victory over Spirit Lake Park.