Hot-shooting T-C hands Viking boys first defeat, 76-57

 AVOCA (Jan. 8) -- Tri-Center shot nearly 70 percent from the field and won the rebounding battle 39-22 last Friday night, gradually building a 22-point lead through three quarters and handing the AHSTW boys basketball team its first loss of the season, 76-57, in Avoca.
 The 2nd-ranked (Class 2A) Vikings scored at least 13 points in each quarter but couldn’t slow down T-C’s all-senior starting five, falling to 10-1 overall and 7-1 in the Western Iowa Conference.
 The Trojans (6-2, 5-2 WIC) scored 64 points in the first three periods and were led by the duo of Ethan Alfers and Leyton Nelson, who combined to make 16-of-19 shots.
 Alfers hit 3-of-4 treys and finished with 21 points and six rebounds. Nelson (8-of-8 from the field) tallied 16 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and three steals while Kent Elliott and Zach Elliott added 12 and nine points, respectively, off the bench and combined for 13 boards.
 T-C made 32-of-46 field goals overall, including 6-of-12 three-pointers.
 AHSTW was paced by Raydden Grobe’s four treys and 20 points while Kyle Sternberg had 12 points and five assists. Brayden Lund added nine points and seven rebounds.