By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

ARMSTRONG—In a contest for sole possession of third place in the Top of Iowa Conference boys’ basketball standings, the North Union Warriors topped the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bears by the score of 74-65 on Friday, Jan. 27.

The contest was a physical, fast-paced contest that was very entertaining battle between the two rival schools in front of big crowd in the stands on both sides of the gym.

By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

ARMSTRONG—Not even starting the game on the bench could stop the state’s leading scorer from going over the 40-point mark for the third straight game as senior Audi Crooks led top-ranked Bishop Garrigan to a 63-49 win over the North Union Warriors on Friday, Jan. 27.

IOWA FALLS—A six-point advantage in the opening frame proved to be the difference as the Iowa Falls-Alden Cadet boys’ basketball team edged the Algona Bulldogs 67-64 in a North Central Conference contest played on Friday, Jan. 27.

The Cadets led 22-16 at the conclusion of the first quarter. The home team also led 40-36 at intermission and 55-51 heading into the final eight minutes of play.

No other Algona statistics from the contest were available at press time.

FORT DODGE—West Bend-Mallard limited St. Edmond to 15 points in the second half on Thursday, Jan. 26 in a 59-38 non-conference boys’ basketball victory over the Gaels.

St. Edmond started strong and led 11-7 at the conclusion of the first stanza. The visitors battled back to lead 29-23 at intermission and held a 43-27 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

FORT DODGE—West Bend-Mallard overcame a sluggish first half and rolled to 53-25 non-conference girls’ basketball victory over the St. Edmond Gaels on Thursday, Jan. 26.

The purple-and-gold led 15-4 at the end of the first period and increased their advantage to 24-8 at halftime. The visitors also led 37-13 heading into the final eight minutes of action.

IOWA FALLS—It took an extra four minutes to decide a winner in a North Central Conference girls’ basketball contest on Friday, Jan. 27.

Algona outscored Iowa Falls-Alden 7-4 in the extra session to squeeze out a hard-fought 63-60 win in overtime to stay alone in second place in the league standings.

SIOUX RAPIDS—West Bend-Mallard picked up a trio of Twin Lakes Conference wrestling dual meet victories on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

The purple-and-gold topped South Central Calhoun 34-33, defeated East Sac County by the score of 54-30 and beat Sioux Central 48-21.

Four Wolverine grapplers went 3-0 on the night as both Logan Grimm and Ben Massner recorded a pair of falls while teammate Ethan Zaugg added one pin and Mason Knapp also went 3-0 on the evening.

GARNER—The North Union Warriors’ wrestling squad earned three more Top of Iowa Conference dual meet victories on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

The Warriors defeated Northwood-Kensett 48-27, topped Garner-Hayfield/Ventura 36-33 and beat Eagle Grove by the score of 40-32.

A pair of green-black-and-silver wrestlers went a perfect 3-0 during the evening as both Brennen Bollinger and Kolton Walter each went 3-0 with a pair of falls.

WEST HANCOCK—The Algona Bulldog boys’ wrestling squad improved to 19-3 in overall dual matches with a pair of dual meet wins on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

The Bulldogs defeated West Hancock 47-25 in a non-conference match and topped Hampton-Dumont 48-22 in a North Central Conference match to finish the conference with a dual meet record of 4-3.

ALGONA—Humboldt overcame a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to rally and take a come-from behind 89-85 North Central Conference boys’ basketball victory over the Algona Bulldogs on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

The final eight minutes was fast-paced and wild as the Wildcats outscored the red-and-black 42-36 in the frame, winning the contest at the free throw line late.

ALGONA—A strong first half which they allowed just six points propelled the Algona Bulldog girls’ basketball squad to a 44-30 North Central Conference victory on Tuesday, Jan. 24 over the Humboldt Wildcats.

The home teams started fast getting out to a 13-2 lead at the conclusion of the first stanza and led 24-6 at halftime as the Wildcats’ first field goal came with 1:53 remaining in the first half.

ALGONA—Garner-Hayfield/Ventura edged Bishop Garrigan 57-56 in a Top of Iowa Conference boys’ basketball contest played on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

The visitors led 15-12 after the first eight minutes of play and took a 29-22 advantage to the locker room at intermission.

The Golden Bears used a big third quarter to take a 42-39 lead at the end of that frame before the red-and-black outscored them 18-14 in the final stanza for the victory.

ALGONA—Second-ranked Clear Lake built a 20-lead before holding off a late rally to earn a 63-55 North Central Conference boys’ basketball victory on Monday, Jan. 30 over the Algona Bulldogs.

The Lions jumped out to a 15-7 lead at the conclusion of the first period and took a 31-19 advantage to the locker room at halftime. The visitors also led 48-34 going into the final eight minutes of play.

WEST BEND—Emmetsburg built a three-point first quarter lead and gradually pulled away in a 65-48 Twin Lakes Conference boys’ basketball victory on Friday, Jan. 27 over the West Bend-Mallard Wolverines.

The E-Hawks led 14-11 after the contest’s first eight minutes before taking a 33-18 advantage to the locker room at halftime and led 44-34 at the end of the third quarter.

BELMOND—Belmond-Klemme upset No. 10 North Union as the Broncos earned a 44-41 Top of Iowa Conference girls’ basketball overtime win on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

The Warriors led 13-5 at the end of the first period and had a 19-17 advantage at halftime. The contest was tied up at 28-28 at the conclusion of the third quarter and 37-37 at the end of regulation.

Naomi Jones led North Union in scoring with 15 points and was joined in double figures by Olivia Von Bank with 12 points.