By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

ALGONA—Algona held a 7-2 lead early but it was all Bishop Garrigan after that as the second-ranked (Class 1A) Golden Bears rolled to a 71-28 non-conference girls basketball victory on Saturday, Dec. 18, over the red-and-black.

The first half was a game of runs as Audi Crooks opened the contest with a basket but Algona responded with the next seven points for a 7-2 lead 2:25 into the game.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

WEST BEND—The West Bend-Mallard Wolverine boys basketball team built a big lead early in the final frame and held off a late North Iowa rally to defeat the Bison 61-58 on Thursday, Dec. 16, in non-conference play for their first victory of the season.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

WEST BEND—A strong second period gave the West Bend-Mallard Wolverine girls basketball squad a 12-point advantage and they never looked back on Thursday, Dec. 16, to capture their first victory of the 2021-2022 season.

The purple-and-gold defeated the North Iowa Lady Bison by the final score of 48-34 in the non-conference contest to end a four-game losing streak.

ALGONA—A 15-0 advantage in the second quarter propelled the Algona Bulldog girls basketball squad to a 49-27 North Central Conference victory over the Webster City Lynx on Friday, Dec. 17.

The home team scored the first eight points of the contest only to see Webster City answer with the next 10 points. The red-and-black scored the final three points of the first stanza for an 11-10 advantage at the quarter break.

ARMSTRONG—Second-ranked Bishop Garrigan rolled out to a big lead early on Friday, Dec. 17, and never looked back in a 71-29 Top of Iowa Conference girls basketball win over the No. 14 rated North Union Warriors.

The black-and-gold raced out to a 22-7 advantage at the end of the first quarter and increased their advantage to 42-13 at intermission, The visitors took a commanding 63-19 lead into the final eight minutes of play.

SPENCER—Isaac Wilson and Jacob Zabka earned titles at the Austin Roberts Memorial Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 18, to highlight the performances of the Algona Bulldogs wrestling squad.

Algona finished in fourth place in the 15-team field in the team standings with 154.5 points. Hayden Thompson placed second as both Tate Slagle and Brandon Harris was third.

EAGLE GROVE—The West Bend-Mallard Wolverines wrestling squad dropped a pair of non-conference matches on Thursday, Dec. 16. The purple-and-gold was defeated by the Eagle Grove Eagles by the score of 57-18 and fell to the Manson Northwest Webster Cougars by the score of 46-18.

Logan Grimm was the lone Wolverine to go 2-0 on the evening with a fall and a forfeit while teammate Coltin Hoover won by fall and Garrett Fehr, Ben Massner and Ethan Zaugg each won by forfeit.

ARMSTRONG—North Union built a big lead and held off a late run by Bishop Garrigan on Friday, Dec. 17, in a 72-61 Top of Iowa Conference boys basketball victory over the Golden Bears.

The home team started fast by taking a 22-9 lead at the conclusion of the first stanza and built a 38-22 advantage at halftime. The green-black-and-silver took a 57-34 at the end of third period and held off a late run by the visitors.

ALGONA—In a low-scoring Top of Iowa Conference boys basketball contest, the Garner-Hayfield/Ventura Cardinals defeated the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bears 48-32 on Tuesday, Dec. 14.

The visitors held an 11-5 lead at the conclusion of the first eight minutes of play and took a 17-13 advantage to the locker room at halftime. The Cardinals extended the lead to 38-25 at the end of the third quarter.

HUMBOLDT—Algona had the lead in the opening frame but the Humboldt Wildcats led the final 24 minutes on Tuesday, Dec. 14, and went onto a 51-43 North Central Conference girls basketball victory over the red-and-black.

The visitors held a two point lead at 7-5 at the conclusion of the first period but the blue-and-gold took a 21-17 advantage to the locker room at intermission and led 34-28 at the end of the third quarter.

BELMOND—North Union improved to 3-0 on the year in Top of Iowa Conference girls’ basketball play with a hard-fought 44-33 victory on Tuesday, Dec. 14 over the Belmond-Klemme Broncos.

The 12^th ranked Warriors started fast by taking an early 14-2 lead at the end of the first quarter and led 23-16 at halftime. The green-black-and-silver held a 34-24 advantage into the fourth period of action.

ALGONA—Bishop Garrigan remained undefeated in Top of Iowa Conference play as the second-ranked Golden Bears started fast on Tuesday, Dec. 14, as they went onto a 72-32 girls basketball victory over the Garner-Hayfield/Ventura Cardinals.

The black-and-gold got out quickly by taking a 20-5 advantage at the conclusion of the game’s first eight minutes. The home team also led 36-10 at halftime and 58-18 at the end of the third period.

WEST BEND—Sophomore Kierstin Montag poured in 17 points and yanked down 18 rebounds to help lead the West Bend-Mallard Wolverine girls basketball squad to their second straight win on Friday, Dec. 17, with a 53-47 Twin Lakes Conference victory over the Alta-Aurelia Warriors.

The home team trailed 8-6 at the conclusion of the game’s first eight minutes but took a 23-18 advantage at halftime. West Bend-Mallard also led 39-27 after three quarters of basketball.

HUMBOLDT—The Algona Bulldogs wrestling squad picked up a trio of victories on Thursday, Dec. 16, including a pair of North Central Conference matches.

The red-and-black won a pair of close league matches as they beat Humboldt 42-34 and Hampton-Dumont by the score of 37-36 and also won a 42-36 non-conference match over the Ballard Bombers.

CHEROKEE—Dalton Tobin placed second at 145 pounds on Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Paul Fuhrman Invitational to highlight the performances of the North Union Warriors wrestling squad.

Both Ethan Preston and Liam Kollasch were third as Breenan Bollinger and Kolton Walter took fourth place. Gavyn Morphew and Talan Priester each finished in fifth place as Lucas Dreyer was sixth. The Warriors scored 96.5 points to place sixth in the team standings.