Clear Lake out-scored Algona seven to three in overtime to squeeze out a hard-fought 44-40 North Central Conference girls’ basketball contest played at Clear Lake on Friday, Dec. 8.
Both teams’ defenses dominated the opening stanza as the home team led 7-3 at the conclusion of the quarter but Algona fought back to enjoy a narrow 16-13 advantage at halftime.

Collin Bleich nailed a three-pointer late in the game to give the Algona Bulldog boys’ basketball squad an exciting 49-47 North Central Conference victory over the Clear Lake Lions in a contest played at Clear Lake on Friday, Dec. 8.
Neither team could score more than five consecutive points in the see-saw game as the red-and-black garnered its first win of 2017-2018 season on the hardwood.

North Union built a big lead early and cruised to an 80-22 Top of Iowa Conference girls’ basketball victory over the North Iowa Lady Bison in a contest played in Armstrong on Friday, Dec. 1.
The green-black-and-silver scored the first eight points of the game before the Lady Bison drained a three-pointer to get on the scoreboard at 8-3.

Bishop Garrigan remained undefeated on the year with a convincing 85-60, non-conference boys’ basketball victory over the Mason City Newman Knights in a contest played at Mason City on Saturday, Dec. 2.
The black-and-gold connected on 32-of-53 attempts from the floor for 60.3 percent while being successful on 7-of-12 three-point field goal tries for 58.3 percent and sank 14-of-16 free throws for 87.5 percent in the win.

Algona built a big lead early and never looked back in a 67-23, non-conference girls’ basketball victory played on Saturday, Dec. 2 over the Charles City Comets to improve to 2-1 overall on the season.
The red-and-black scored the contest’s first seven points and led 11-2 at the end of the first quarter of play.  The Bulldogs continued to play well in the second frame by out-scoring the visitors 17-4 in the stanza and held a commanding 32-6 advantage at halftime.

Opening the season on the road a long ways from home, the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bear girls’ basketball squad looked impressive in a 71-53 season-opening win over Van Buren Keosauqua.
The game was played on Saturday, Nov. 25 in Cedar Rapids at Coe College as part of Rivalry Saturday as the contest featured two teams that were each ranked 14th in the opening rankings in their respective classes of 1A and 2A.

The 14th-ranked Algona Bulldog girls’ basketball team built a huge first-half lead on some torrid shooting and cruised to its first victory of the 2017-2018 season with a 63-48 win over the Estherville-Lincoln Central Midgettes in a game played on Monday, Nov. 27 at Estherville.

Estherville-Lincoln Central defeated a cold-shooting Algona Bulldog boys’ basketball squad by the score of 42-33 in the season opener for both teams played at Estherville on Monday, Nov. 27.
The red-and-black had a good first quarter but struggled after that as the squad hit just 13-of-41 overall field goals for 31.7 percent, made 3-of-18 attempts behind the three-point arc and connected on 4-of-10 free throws for 40 percent.

Estherville-Lincoln Central defeated a cold-shooting Algona Bulldog boys’ basketball squad by the score of 42-33 in the season opener for both teams played at Estherville on Monday, Nov. 27.
The red-and-black had a good first quarter but struggled after that as the squad hit just 13-of-41 overall field goals for 31.7 percent, made 3-of-18 attempts behind the three-point arc and connected on 4-of-10 free throws for 40 percent.

Estherville-Lincoln Central defeated a cold-shooting Algona Bulldog boys’ basketball squad by the score of 42-33 in the season opener for both teams played at Estherville on Monday, Nov. 27.
The red-and-black had a good first quarter but struggled after that as the squad hit just 13-of-41 overall field goals for 31.7 percent, made 3-of-18 attempts behind the three-point arc and connected on 4-of-10 free throws for 40 percent.

Molly McCauley made a lay-up from the left side of the lane just before the final buzzer to give the Algona Bulldog girls’ basketball team a thrilling 66-64 victory over the West Hancock Eagles.
The contest featured a pair of teams that were ranked in the initial rankings that came out on Friday as West Hancock started the year ranked number six in Class 1A while the Bulldogs started the 2016-2017 campaign as the 14th ranked team in Class 3A.

Algona erupted for 26 points in the fourth quarter to rally from a five-point deficit heading into the frame as the Bulldogs topped West Hancock 67-59.
The Iowa Hall of Pride Challenge Scrimmage took place on Friday, Nov. 17 at Algona.  As part of the Pride Challenge, all participating schools have identified a community service project that is meaningful for their school and community.

For the second straight year, North Union’s Riley Bauer is the Class 1A state cross-country champion as the Warrior senior placed first at the state meet held on Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Lakeside Golf Course just north of Fort Dodge.
With temperatures in low 40’s and slight 10 mile per hour wind, Riley covered the 3.2 mile course with his clocking of 16:14.2, which was three seconds faster than runner-up Sean McDermott of Madrid as a total of 149 runners competed in the race.

Trey Engen of Algona finished in 24th place overall at the Class 3A state cross-country meet held at the Lakeside Golf Course just north of Fort Dodge on Saturday, Oct. 28.
The Bulldog junior was timed in a career-best clocking of 16:48.6 to improve in his third time competing in the state meet.  Trey ended up in 68th place as a freshman in 2015 in 17:37.3 and was 79th last year in 17:35.6 for the red-and-black.

West Hancock used the big play in all four of its scores in a 26-12 Class A opening round football playoff win over the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bears in a contest played at Conway Field on Friday, Oct. 27.
The red-and-white hit the home team with five plays that totaled 272 yards as the Eagles rushed the football 45 times for 396 yards on the night to advance to quarter-final round against second-ranked West Sioux.