LAKE MILLS—Bishop Garrigan picked up a key early season Top of Iowa Conference boys basketball victory on Tuesday, Dec. 10 with a 63-51 win over the Lake Mills Bulldogs.

The black-and-gold maintained the lead throughout the 32-minute contest, but could never put the pesky purple-and-gold squad away in the league contest.

BRITT—A fast start built an early 8-0 lead and the West Hancock Eagle boys basketball team never looked back by taking a 79-59 Top of Iowa Conference win over the North Union Warriors on Friday, Dec. 13.

The red-and-white hit 9 of 13 overall field goals in the first eight minutes to hold a 19-8 lead at the end of the first stanza. The Eagles also led 34-26 at halftime and 62-40 after three-quarters of basketball.

WEST BEND—An 11-0 run to begin the third quarter blew open a tight game at halftime as Northwood-Kensett remained undefeated on the year with a 59-41 non-conference boys basketball win over the West Bend-Mallard Wolverines.

The home team played very well the opening half as they led most of those 16 minutes. The purple-and-gold led 11-10 at the conclusion of the first stanza in the game played on Monday, Dec. 16.

COLFAX—West Bend-Mallard lost a pair of wrestling matches on Thursday, Dec. 12. Manson Northwest Webster defeated the purple-and-gold 65-6 as the only points came on a fall in 18 seconds by Mason Knapp at 113 pounds in the Twin Lakes Conference match.

The Wolverines also fell to Colfax-Mongo by the final score of 48-15. West Bend-Mallard’s points came from Jack Habben with a fall in 1:09 at 285 pounds, Kadin Knapp with a 6-1 decision and Mason Knapp by a forfeit at 113.

ARMSTRONG—Forest City went on a 16-1 run in the final 5:35 of the game to earn a 57-42 Top of Iowa Conference girls basketball victory on Tuesday, Dec. 10 over the North Union Warriors.

With the contest deadlocked at 41-41 with 5:35 remaining, the fourth-ranked Indians scored 16 of the last 17 points of the battle to earn the league win.

Shallie Walders led the green-black-and-silver in scoring with 17 points and was joined in double figures by Ainsley Ulrich with 13.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

INDEPENDENCE—In one of the biggest wrestling tournaments in the state, the Algona Bulldog boys wrestling team placed seven individuals in the top 10 at the 30-team Cliff Kenne Invitational held on Dec. 6-7.

The red-and-black finished in ninth place in the team standings with a team score of 209 points as Alburnett won the team title with a first place team total of 348 points.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

MASON CITY—On Thursday, Dec. 5, the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bear boys swim team competed in a triangular meet against Mason City and Fort Dodge.

The black-and-gold lost to Mason City by the final score of 125-35 and fell to the Fort Dodge Dodgers by the score of 103-48 as it was their first ever dual meet.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

BUFFALO CENTER—North Union used strong second and third quarters along with 37 points from Ainsley Ulrich in a 72-41 Top of Iowa Conference girls basketball rout over the North Iowa Lady Bison on Friday, Dec. 6.

CHARLES CITY—Algona trailed by 25 points with 3:15 left in the third quarter before roaring back for a huge come-from-behind 70-68 non-conference boys basketball win on Saturday, Dec. 7 over the Charles City Comets.

Senior Ben Helmers poured in a game-high 37 points, including the 1,000^th point of his high school career to lead the way for the red-and-black.

BELMOND—Sophomore point guard Michael Joyce poured in a career-high 32 points to lead the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bear boys basketball team to an 81-35 Top of Iowa Conference opening victory over Belmond-Klemme on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Joyce connected on 13 of 22 overall field goals on the night, went five of eleven behind the three-point arc and sank his only free throw attempt in establishing a new career high.

MILFORD—Senior Brennen Bollinger claimed first place at 285 pounds to highlight the performances of the North Union Warriors wrestling squad at the Okoboji Invitational held on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The green-black-and-silver ended up in 10^th overall in the team standings with 59 points as Okoboji took the team title with a total of 181 points.

BELMOND—Number one ranked Bishop Garrigan fought off a gritty Belmond-Klemme Bronco girls basketball squad 53-45 on Tuesday, Dec. 3 in the Top of Iowa Conference opener for both teams.

The black-and-gold maintained a comfortable lead throughout the contest, but could never put the home team away in the turnover filled game that saw the Golden Bears force 26 turnovers, but also committed 21 miscues.

ALGONA—Building a huge first half lead, the eighth-ranked Algona Bulldog girls basketball squad cruised to a 62-42 North Central Conference season opening victory on Friday, Dec. 6 over the Iowa Falls-Alden Cadets.

The Bulldogs led 10-6 at the conclusion of the opening frame before extending that advantage to 30-12 at intermission. The red-and-black also enjoyed a 46-25 lead heading into the final eight minutes of action.

GRAETTINGER—West Bend-Mallard used a big second period to earn a 42-35 non-conference girls basketball victory on Tuesday, Dec. 3 over the Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire Titans.

Both teams struggled taking care of the basketball as the home team committed 23 turnovers while the Wolverines committed a total of 34 turnovers in the win.