Lady Vikes ring in new year with a winning streak

 GRISWOLD -- When talking about his basketball team Tuesday night, AHSTW girls head coach Tyler Morris referenced “2017” about four times during the process of answering four questions.
 And why not?
 Since flipping the calendar less than two weeks ago, the Lady Vikes are 3-0 in the new year following Tuesday night’s 46-23 win at Griswold. They started the season 1-8.
 Morgan Eckmann scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against the Tigers, but the story was defense as the Lady Vikes came up with 16 steals using a combination of 2-3 and 1-3-1 zones.
 With the score tied 4-4 midway through the opening quarter, AHSTW held Griswold scoreless for more than eight minutes during a pivotal 15-0 run and continued to pull away in the second half.
 Morris, now in his second year as the Lady Vikes’ head coach, says that maturity and improving fundamentals on both ends of the court have played a role in the team’s January wins over Earlham, Tri-Center and Griswold.
 AHSTW is now 4-8 overall and 3-6 in the Western Iowa Conference after finishing 3-16 last season.