ALGONA—A late fourth quarter rally came up just short as the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bear boys basketball team dropped a 56-53 Top of Iowa Conference contest on Tuesday, Dec. 21, to the North Iowa Bison.

Trailing by 10 points with 4:10 to play in the game, the black-and-gold fought back to tie the contest up at 53-53 with 30 seconds to play but the rally fell just short as the visitors sank three free throws to earn the win.

STORM LAKE—Storm Lake St. Mary’s outscored West Bend-Mallard 14-9 in the final eight minutes to rally for a 52-48 Twin Lakes Conference boys basketball victory over the purple-and-gold on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

The home team built a 17-12 advantage at the conclusion of the first period and took a narrow 28-27 lead into the locker room at halftime. West Bend-Mallard led 40-38 at the end of the third quarter.

SPIRIT LAKE—Closing out their pre-Christmas schedule, the Algona Bulldog boys wrestling squad went 2-1 on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

The red-and-black fell to Pocahontas Area 42-33 but rebounded with a 66-9 victory over Cherokee and a 48-35 win over Spirit Lake Park.

By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

ALGONA—Senior Connor State poured in a game-high 30 points to help lead the undefeated Clarion-Goldfield/Dows Cowboys to a 62-30 North Central Conference boys basketball win on Tuesday, Dec. 21, over the Algona Bulldogs.

State got the visitors off to a good start by scoring his team’s first six points of the contest while Caden Weber scored two early baskets for Algona for the early 6-4 score.

By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

ALGONA—Heading into the Christmas break on a winning note, the Algona Bulldog girls basketball squad defeated the Clarion-Goldfield/Dows Cowgirls 50-31 in NCC action.

The Bulldogs led by 10 points at intermission and gradually expanded the lead to earn their third win and second in league play.

By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

ALGONA—Legendary race car driver Gene Schattschneider was inducted to the Iowa Hall of Fame in a ceremony held on Saturday, Nov. 13 at the Briggs Wood Conference Center. Schattschneider is the first Algona driver to be inducted.

SWEA CITY—In their final meet before the Christmas break, the North Union Warriors wrestling squad won two out of three Top of Iowa Conference matches on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

The green-black-and-silver defeated Forest City 51-30 and Rockford by the score of 63-10 but fell to fifth ranked Nashua-Plainfield 72-9.

ALGONA—Second ranked Bishop Garrigan ripped off their fourth straight victory and fifth in conference play on Tuesday, Dec. 21, with an easy 78-24 victory over the North Iowa Lady Bison.

The black-and-gold raced out to a commanding 25-5 lead after the first period and took a 45-11 advantage to the locker room at halftime. The home team also led 58-16 at the conclusion of the third quarter of play.

STORM LAKE—Storm Lake St. Mary’s remained undefeated on the year with a 36-22 Twin Lakes Conference girls basketball victory on Tuesday, Dec. 21, over the West Bend-Mallard Wolverines in a low-scoring contest.

The home team blew out to a 14-2 advantage at the end of the first quarter and took a 25-9 lead to the locker room at halftime. The ninth-ranked Panthers also led 32-16 heading into the fourth quarter of action.

LAKE MILLS—The North Union Warriors moved into the Christmas break the right way with a 61-38 Top of Iowa Conference win on Tuesday, Dec. 21, over the Lake Mills girls.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

ALGONA—Bishop Garrigan hung tough in the opening half but the Algona Bulldog boys basketball team took over in the second half to earn a 75-60 cross-town victory over the black-and-gold on Saturday, Dec. 18.

The two teams traded baskets to start the contest as with the game tied at 6-6, a field goal by Jack Grandgenett gave Bishop Garrigan their first lead at 8-6 with 4:45 left in the first stanza.

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.