By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

ALGONA—Top-ranked Bishop Garrigan scored early and often in a blowout 85-18 non-conference girls’ basketball victory on Thursday, Dec. 1 over the Mason City Newman Knights.

The home team started fast by scoring the first 11 points of the contest before the Knights got on the scoreboard with a successful foul shot.

GREENE—The North Union Warriors wrestling squad won two of three Top of Iowa Conference matches on Thursday, Dec. 1 in the team’s season opening triangular match.

The green-black-and-silver topped North Butler/Clarksville 51-30 before defeating Northwood-Kensett 60-18 but lost to Osage by the score of 74-6.

FORT DODGE—In their season opener, the Algona Bulldog boys’ wrestling team split a North Central Conference dual meet on Thursday, Dec. 1.

The red-and-black opened the night with a 73-0 victory over the St. Edmond Gaels but lost a 41-28 match to Webster City. Tate Slagle, Barrett Morgan, Taevyn Zinnel, Dane Kitzinger and Jacob Zabka all went 2-0 during the evening.

WEST BEND—West Bend-Mallard rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit with a strong second half to earn their first victory of the season with a 47-43 Twin Lakes Conference girls’ basketball win over the Southeast Valley Jaguars on Friday, Dec. 2.

The home team held a narrow 11-9 lead at the end of the first period before a second stanza gave Southeast Valley a 27-20 advantage at intermission.

BUFFALO CENTER—North Union raced out to a big lead early and never looked back in a 63-20 Top of Iowa Conference girls’ basketball victory over the North Iowa Lady Bison on Friday, Dec. 2.

The green-black-and-silver built a 20-3 advantage at the end of the first quarter before taking a 36-5 lead to the locker room at intermission and held a commanding 47-11 lead at the conclusion of the third period.

CHARLES CITY—Making a long trip road trip on Saturday, Dec. 3, the Algona Bulldog girls’ basketball squad came home with a convincing 72-21 non-conference victory over the Charles City Comets.

The visitors left little doubt of the outcome as they scored the first 24 points of the contest and led 29-2 at the end of the first eight minutes of action. The red-and-black took a 49-9 advantage to halftime and led 57-18 at the end of the third period.

ALGONA—Mason City Newman outscored Bishop Garrigan 46-28 in the second half to earn a 76-58 non-conference boys’ basketball victory on Thursday, Dec. 1 over the black-and-gold.

The visitors held a narrow 18-16 lead at the conclusion of the first period and the contest was deadlocked at 30-30 at intermission. The Knights eased out to 53-44 advantage at the end of the third quarter of action.

WEST BEND—Sam Fehr exploded for 26 points and ripped down 20 rebounds to propel the West Bend-Mallard Wolverine boys’ basketball team to 65-52 Twin Lakes Conference win over the Southeast Valley Jaguars.

The home team started fast by scoring the first nine points of the contest and had 15-4 lead at the end of the first period. The purple-and-gold increased that advantage to 36-15 at intermission and led 49-25 going into the final stanza.

BUFFALO CENTER—North Union rallied in the second half by outscoring North Iowa 40-22 to earn a 73-52 come-from-behind Top of Iowa Conference boys’ basketball victory over Bison on Friday, Dec. 2.

North Iowa started fast by holding a 24-16 lead at the end of the first eight minutes before the visitors rallied to hold a narrow 33-30 advantage at intermission. The green-black-and-silver extended their lead to 56-39 at the conclusion of the third quarter.

POCAHONTAS—West Bend-Mallard dropped a pair of non-conference matches here on Thursday, Dec. 1 in the season opener for the squad.

The purple-and-gold lost to the Storm Lake Tornadoes 39-33 and before falling to Emmetsburg by the score of 63-18. Freshman Mason Knapp was the lone Wolverine to go 2-0 in the evening with a fall in 1:08 and a forfeit victory.

HUMBOLDT—Five Algona High School girls’ wrestlers placed first in their bracket at the Humboldt Scramble held on Friday, Dec. 1 with a total of 12 squads competing.

Alyssa Olson, Malyn Davis, Jenna Stohr, Ryan Haynes and Gretchen Gorham all won their classes while teammates Harley Tobin, Eliza Schultz, MaKayla Erpelding and Katie Ludwig each finished in second place.

MILFORD—The North Union Warriors wrestling team turned in one of their best team performances as they finished in third place in the Okoboji/Hartley Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 3.

The green-black-and-silver ended up in third place in the 11-team field with 160.5 team points that was bested only by Bishop Heelan and West Hancock tied for first place with 170 team points.

GRAETTINGER—Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire out-scored West Bend-Mallard 10-6 in the final eight minutes to rally for a 39-36 win over the purple-and-gold on Thursday, Dec. 1 in girls’ basketball play.

The home team started fast with a 10-3 lead at the conclusion of the first quarter and led 17-13 at halftime. The Wolverines rallied in the third period to take a 30-29 advantage into the final eight minutes of action before the Titans rallied for the win.

ALGONA—Algona scored the first seven points of the game and never looked back again in a 61-17 North Central Conference girls’ basketball victory on Friday, Dec. 2 over the Hampton-Dumont Bulldogs.

The home team built a 17-6 lead at the conclusion of the first quarter and took a commanding 37-10 advantage at halftime. Algona also led 51-14 at the end of the third period of play.

ARMSTRONG—Top-ranked (Class 3A) Estherville-Lincoln Central forced over 25 turnovers that led some easy baskets in a 58-33 non-conference girls’ basketball contest played on Monday, Dec. 5.

Leading 5-4, the visitors finished the first stanza on an 8-0 run to hold a 13-4 lead at the quarter break. E-LC held a 31-10 advantage at halftime and led 47-20 heading into the final eight minutes of action.