GARNER—North Union improved to 12-3 in Top of Iowa Conference games and 15-4 overall on Friday, Feb. 3 with a hard-fought 46-40 conference victory over the Garner-Hayfield/Ventura Cardinals.

Naomi Jones poured in a game-high 19 points and was joined in double figures by teammate Olivia Von Bank with 10 points.

FORT DODGE—Algona improved to 14-6 overall and 11-2 in league play on Friday, Feb. 3 with a 66-23 pasting of the St. Edmond Gaels in North Central Conference girls’ basketball action.

The red-and-black took a 22-4 lead at the end of the first period and increased their advantage to 45-14 at intermission. The visitors also led 58-18 heading into the fourth quarter of play.

DES MOINES—The Class 1A district pairings were released on Monday for the three area boys’ basketball teams as all three squads were assigned to District No. 4.

Bishop Garrigan (10-10) will open play on Monday, Feb. 13 when they entertain the West Bend-Mallard Wolverines (8-11) in the top part of the bracket.

ALTA—The West Bend-Mallard Wolverine boys’ basketball team went on the road on Thursday, Feb. 2 in Twin Lakes Conference action and came home with an 80-49 victory over the Alta-Aurelia Warriors.

The purple-and-gold got off to a fast start as they led 26-11 after the first eight minutes of play. The visitors extended their advantage to 47-18 at intermission and held a commanding 61-37 lead after three quarters of basketball.

ALGONA—Senior Caden Weber went over the 20-point mark for the second time in 24 hours to help lead the Algona Bulldog boys’ basketball team to 75-46 North Central Conference win over the Iowa Falls-Alden Cadets.

Weber poured in a game-high 21 points and was joined in double figures by Ben Helmers with 15 and Alex Manske with 11 points.

ALGONA—In a high scoring Top of Iowa Conference boys’ basketball contest played on Monday, Feb. 6, the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bears outscored the North Iowa Bison by the final score of 79-67.

The home team led 17-12 at the end of the first period and took a 34-29 advantage to the locker room at intermission. The black-and-gold also led 58-51 heading into the game’s final eight minutes.

DES MOINES—The post-season pairings were released last week for the four area girls’ basketball squads as they now know the teams that stand in their path toward a trip to 2023 state tournament in Des Moines.

West Bend-Mallard will be the first area team to see action on Thursday, Feb. 9 as the Wolverines (7-12) will travel to Britt to face the West Hancock Eagles (10-10).

POCAHONTAS—The West Bend-Mallard Wolverine girls’ basketball squad fell 60-23 on Friday, Feb. 3 to Pocahontas Area Indians in a Twin Lakes Conference contest.

The home team blew out to a 17-2 lead after the first eight minutes of action before taking a 42-15 advantage to the locker room at intermission and led 57-18 at the end of the third quarter of action.

ALGONA—The Bishop Garrigan Golden Bear girls’ basketball squad completed another perfect season to capture another conference championship on Monday, Feb. 6.

The latest win was a 72-38 triumph over the North Iowa Lady Bison as the black-and-gold ran through the Top of Iowa Conference schedule with a perfect 16-0 record and ran their unbelievable league winning streak to 56 games.

ARMSTRONG—North Union rolled up to huge first period lead on Tuesday, Jan. 31 and never looked back in a 62-18 Top of Iowa Conference girls’ basketball win over the Eagle Grove Eagles.

The green-black-and-silver jumped out to a 25-2 advantage at the end of the first quarter and extended that lead to 42-15 at intermission. The home team held a commanding 55-15 lead going into the final stanza.

MANSON—Manson Northwest Webster rallied in the final frame by outscoring West Bend-Mallard 18-12 to rally for a 56-53 Twin Lakes Conference win on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

West Bend-Mallard led the whole game until the fourth stanza. The purple-and-gold held leads of 15-7, 22-21 and 41-38 at the three quarter breaks before the Cougars rallied for the victory.

MANSON—After an even first stanza, Manson Northwest Webster gradually pulled away and earned a 52-36 Twin Lakes Conference girls’ basketball win on Tuesday, Jan. 31 over the West Bend-Mallard Wolverines.

The contest was dead-locked at 13-13 at the end of the first period before the home team led 28-20 at halftime and held a 37-28 advantage after the third quarter of action.

SWEA CITY—The North Union Warriors wrestling team hosted their only home meet of the season on Tuesday, Jan. 31 by entertaining squads from Sioux Central, Clear Lake and Estherville-Lincoln Central.

The Warriors defeated Sioux Central 54-21 but dropped matches to Clear Lake by the final score of 53-24 and Estherville-Lincoln Central 54-27.

OSAGE—Algona dropped a tight 31-29 decision to Clarion-Goldfield/Dows on Tuesday, Jan. 31 in the Class 2A regional duals.

Barrett Morgan and Taevyn Zinnel won by decision to start the dual as Tate Slagle then won by major decision to get Algona out to a quick 10-0 advantage.

But the Cowboys roared back by taking the next five matches, including four of them by falls to take a 28-10 lead.

ARMSTRONG—North Union overcame a sluggish first half before rolling to a 66-47 Top of Iowa Conference boys’ basketball win on Tuesday, Jan. 31 over the Eagle Grove Eagles.

The green-black-and-silver trailed 18-16 at the conclusion of the first period before taking a narrow 30-29 advantage at halftime. The home team held a 44-39 lead heading into the final eight minutes of action.