Hot start carries Vikings past Spartans

 ELK HORN (Jan. 23) -- Buoyed by a 30-11 first-quarter advantage, the AHSTW boys shot 53 percent and forced Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton into 31 turnovers in last Saturday’s 72-58 non-conference road win.
 The host Spartans cut into the third-ranked (2A) Vikings’ early 19-point lead by winning the second quarter 18-7, but couldn’t sustain their rally in the second half.
 Exira-EHK (8-7) won the rebounding battle 28-20 but finished minus-16 in the turnover department.
 AHSTW (14-1) was led by another monster game from sophomore Brayden Lund, who shot better than 85 percent for the second time in three games. Lund made 13-of-15 field goals, including both of his three-pointers, and scored 29 points to go along with five steals. Five days earlier, he scored 30 points on 12-of-14 shooting vs. Earlham.
 Kyle Sternberg finished with 22 points, five rebounds, four steals and three blocks for the Vikings while Cole Scheffler added 13 points, six steals and four assists.
 AHSTW was able to overcome a rare off night from junior Raydden Grobe, who fouled out after scoring just two points (he averages 18.7) on 1-of-7 shooting. Grobe did have four steals on defense and the Vikings had 21 as a team.
 Exira-EHK was led by three players in double figures: Easton Nelson 14, Trey Petersen 13 and Cash Emgarten 10. Nelson also had eight rebounds.
 Rounding out the Spartan scoring column were Aiden Flathers with nine points off the bench, Tyler Petersen seven points and 10 boards and Jackson Radcliff with five points.
 The Spartans shot 49 percent overall and made 7-of-16 three-pointers.