GOWRIE—In its Twin Lakes Conference opener, the West Bend-Mallard Wolverine girls basketball squad dropped a 66-54 decision to the Southeast Valley Jaguars on Friday, Dec. 3.

The home team led 17-8 at the end of the first period and took a 32-25 advantage to the locker room at intermission. The Jaguars also led 46-39 heading into the fourth quarter of action.

ALGONA—Junior point guard Molly Joyce scored the 1,000th point of her career to help lead the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bear girls’ basketball squad to a 73-25 Top of Iowa Conference win on Tuesday, Nov. 30 over the Belmond-Klemme Broncos.

Joyce sank a free throw halfway through the third quarter for her 31st point of the evening and the 1,000th in her career as that ended her night as she received a standing ovation from the crowd for her accomplishment as she exited the floor.

ARMSTRONG—Opening Top of Iowa Conference play on Friday, Dec. 3 at home, the North Union Warrior girls’ basketball squad cruised to a 64-21 victory over the North Iowa Lady Bison.

The home team led 13-5 at the end of the first quarter and increased that advantage to 30-14 at intermission. The green-black-and-silver led 47-20 heading into the fourth period of action.

MILFORD—Freshman Landon Price won the 113-pound title to highlight the performances of the North Union Warriors wrestling squad on Saturday, Dec. 4 at the Okoboji Invitational.

Price won by fall in 1:10 over Zach Feld of Garner-Hayfield/Ventura in the semifinals before earning the title with a 6-1 decision over Central Lyon/George-Little Rock’s Levi Kramer.

MANSON—Aaron Massner and Ethan Zaugg of West Bend-Mallard were runners-up in their weight classes Saturday, Dec. 4 at the Doug Wood Invitational.

The Wolverines finished seventh in the 10-team field with 87 points. Lucas Fehr was fourth at 120 pounds, and Garrett Fehr was fifth at 145 pounds.

ALGONA—Freshman Alex Manske nailed a three-pointer from the left corner with four seconds remaining in double overtime on Saturday Dec. 4 to give the Algona Bulldog boys’ basketball team a thrilling 79-76 win over the Charles City Comets.

The visitors held a 16-13 lead at the end of the first stanza and extended their advantage to 37-27 at intermission. A good third frame by the red-and-black sliced the 47-45 at third period break.

GOWRIE—Southeast Valley started fast and never looked back in a 76-44 Twin Lakes Conference boys’ basketball win on Friday, Dec. 3 over the West Bend-Mallard Wolverines.

The Jaguars led 22-6 at the conclusion of the first quarter and took a commanding 38-15 advantage to the locker room at halftime. The home team led 62-33 at the end of the third period of play.

ARMSTRONG—After winning just two games the entire 2020-21 season, the North Union Warrior boys’ basketball team matched that total in game number two on Friday, Dec. 3 with a 74-44 Top of Iowa Conference win over the North Iowa Bison.

The green-black-and-silver jumped out to a 16-5 lead at the conclusion of the first period and increased their advantage to 36-15 at intermission. The home team held a commanding 69-32 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

MASON CITY—Second-ranked Bishop Garrigan scored the first nine points of the game and never looked back in a 71-27 non-conference girls’ basketball victory on Thursday, Dec. 2 over the Mason City Newman Knights.

The visitors held a 14-6 lead at the end of the first stanza before extending that advantage to 36-17 at halftime. The black-and-gold held a commanding 62-21 lead going into the final eight minutes of action.

JOHNSTON—West Lyon started slowly but got going late in the first stanza and slowly pulled away for a 54-40 non-conference girls’ basketball victory on Saturday, Dec. 4 in the Winter Tipoff Classic.

NORTHWOOD—The North Union Warriors wrestling squad won two of three Top of Iowa Conference matches on Thursday, Dec. 2 in the season opener.

The green-black-and-silver defeated Northwood-Kensett 42-36 and North Butler/Clarksville 54-27 but fell to second-ranked Osage by the score of 69-12.

ALGONA—Hosting a pair of league foes, the Algona Bulldogs wrestling squad split two North Central Conference matches on Thursday, Dec. 2.

The red-and-black fell to the Webster City Lynx 46-26 in the opener before bouncing back to blank the St. Edmond Gaels by the final score of 78-0.

Five Bulldog wrestlers went 2-0 on the evening as Luke Carter and Jagger O-Neall recorded a pair of falls as Isaac Wilson won by fall and earned a forfeit win.

MASON CITY—Mason City Newman built a big first quarter lead and never looked on Thursday, Dec. 2 in a 75-34 non-conference boys’ basketball win over the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bears.

The home team held an 18-4 lead at the conclusion of the first frame and increased their advantage to 37-17 at intermission. The Knights led 62-29 at the end of three periods of basketball.

ALGONA—Clear Lake built a big lead early only to Algona fight back with a strong third quarter before handing the red-and-black a 60-37 defeat on Friday, Dec. 3 in the North Central Conference opener for both squads.

The Lions, ranked No. 8 in Class 3A, took a 13-9 lead at the conclusion of the first frame and extended that advantage to 29-11 at intermission.

By Greg Grabianowski, Sports Editor

A nice group of 11 lettermen are back for the 2021-22 edition of the Algona Bulldog wrestling squad to build a solid foundation on as the team heads into the this winter’s campaign.

This year’s team numbers 33 strong and is comprised of four seniors, six juniors, 10 sophomores and 11 freshmen will round out the red-and-black roster.