DECORAH — Spencer’s boys basketball split back-to-back games, narrowly falling 61-56 to No. 3 Decorah; before winning in the field house Tuesday night, doubling up on Estherville Lincoln Central in a Lakes Conference matchup, 68-34. The Tigers improve to 7-4 going into games at home against Storm Lake, Friday, and on the road at No. 10 Algona, Saturday afternoon. No additional information or comment was provided by the coach.

SPIRIT LAKE — Both the boys and girls wrestling teams at Sioux Central split their competition at Spirit Lake Tuesday night. Both teams dropped their matchup with Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire but got past their hosts.

The Sioux Central boys fell 46-18 to the Titans, and edged the Indians, 41-40.

SIOUX RAPIDS — A trio of Rebels scored a combined 53 points in Sioux Central as the girls basketball team won 75-41 against Okoboji in a nonconference game. The victory allowed the home team to improve to 9-3 overall.

“The team came out with a lot of energy and played with confidence,” said Kasey Krager, Sioux Central coach.

Lakers win close battle on the road

OGDEN — Saturday, the Spencer Tiger girls took part in the Ogden Invitational in the center of the state. Despite multiple open weights, the northwest Iowa would place fourth with 144 points.

Dave Storm, credited his Tiger ladies grit.

SPIRIT LAKE ― “We played probably as well as we had played all year,” Tiger coach Matt Stevenson said. “We made some changes defensively that really made things difficult for them.

He added, “It was just a game of runs and they made the last run. We played with mental toughness, competed every single possession. I am super proud of our kids and team for how they played, it was just unfortunate that we couldn’t pull out a big win.”

SPENCER — “This is why we do it,” said David Doebel.

Doebel’s Spencer Tiger wrestlers used a pin at heavy weight to record a victory over visiting Estherville Lincoln Central as part of a Lakes Conference sweep over the Midgets and Cherokee in the field house Thursday. They topped ELC 36-35, and the Braves in more lopsided fashion, 53-23.

AMES ― Although the Spencer boys finished near the bottom of Saturday’s at the Jack Mendenhall Invitational in Ames, the Tigers 12th place and 50 points were a testament to the team’s ability to overcome the struggles the past week.

David Doebel, Spencer boys wrestling coach, said, “Overall I'm happy with our performance. It's been a long, emotional week with close duals, injuries, early travel and a gauntlet of a tournament to end it.

WATERLOO — Spencer may have finished fourth in a five-team meet, unfamiliar territory for the Tiger boys swimmers, but that’s the price you pay in the field at the War Hawk Invite, Saturday. SHS wounds up with 245, 16 behind their third place hosts. Decorah, with 332, won the title by eight points over runner-up Newton. Vinton finished a distant fifth with 35.

Spencer’s boys lost 73-52 to Spirit Lake, giving up 44 points in the second half — including 25 in the third. The was tied at 29 as the teams left the Indians court at the break. A pair of Indians scored a combined 47 for Spirit Lake in the win. After facing Decorah on the road Monday, they will host Estherville Lincoln Central, Tuesday, and Storm Lake, Friday, in Lakes doubleheaders. (Photo by Scott Merchant)

SPENCER BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL

GRAETTINGER — Nichole Hart and Nataley Frerk went 3-0, and Jess Hammond at 2-0, were perfect in back-to-back-to-back weight classes — 125-135 — for Sioux Central girls wrestling program, combining to go 8-0, as the Rebels went 2-1 at the Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayshire Duals, Thursday.

Giving up six weight classes, Sioux Central downed Manson-NW Webster 36-30, and South Central Calhoun 42-18.

WEST BEND — Leading by 12 at the intermission at West Bend-Mallard Friday night, the visitors provided their traveling base with plenty to be excited about, seeing that dwindle in the third period before pulling away in the final period for a 62-49 conference win.

“WB-M did a lot of nice things, but our girls were resilient and made some big plays when we needed them the most,” said Kasey Krager, Rebel coach.

SHELDON — Duane McGregor, Xander Waldstein and Gavin Casey all produced 3-1 outings, ranging from 144-157 pounds, Saturday, at the Sheldon Invitational in dual action. Sioux Central went 0-4 against Logan-Magnolia, Sheldon/South O’Brien, Storm Lake and Minnesota’s TMB. Additional information and comments weren’t provided by press time.

SIOUX CENTRAL BOYS WRESTLING

Saturday, Jan. 11 — Sheldon

Team Scores

WEST BEND — Making no doubt about it, Sioux Central’s boys basketball team outscored host West Bend-Mallard 29-17 in the first half before putting things away in the third, outscoring the Wolverines 24-11, on its way to a 70-37 Twin Lakes Conference road win.

“Our focus on offense tonight was to really attack gaps in the zone and play in the paint, and I thought we did a great job of that throughout the night,” Rebel head coach Stephen Tjaden said.

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