AUDUBON -- Exira-EHK sophomore Dakota Rold and senior Drew Buckholdt formed a solid one-two punch on the interior Monday night as the Spartans improved to 14-5 overall with a 60-54 non-conference home win over Audubon. Rold finished his night with 20 points and 15 rebounds while Buckholdt had 16 points and six boards. The Spartans also got nine points from Noah Pettepier and six each from Josh Pettepier and Cole Burmeister.

 ADEL -- A total of six Harlan Community wrestlers advanced from sectionals to districts on Saturday, but the loudest cheers and the biggest hugs were deservedly saved for senior Aaron Johannsen. Less than 48 hours after his father, Chris, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 46, Johannsen pinned both of his opponents - pointing upward after each victory - and earned the 220-pound championship in the Class 2-A, Sectional 5 Tournament at A-D-

 UNDERWOOD -- For 24 hours anyway, the AHSTW boys basketball team had to share its perch atop the Western Iowa Conference. Unable to build on an early 20-9 lead, or slow down Underwood standout Isaiah Humphrey during the final three quarters, the Vikings were outscored 14-2 down the stretch in a 63-47 road loss to the Eagles Thursday night. Led by Humphrey’s 34 points and 11 rebounds, Underwood avenged an earlier 24-point defeat at AHSTW - a g

 GLENWOOD -- Andrew Blum scored 17 of his game-high 29 points in the second half and Nate Mohr broke loose for three second-half 3-pointers Friday night as Glenwood outscored the Harlan Community boys 44-25 after halftime to win 74-60 and sweep the season series. The Cyclones’ second loss of the week dropped their record to 9-8 overall as they prepare for Tuesday’s game at St. Albert. HCHS remains 6-3 in Hawkeye Ten Conference games. 

 MANNING -- IKM-Manning senior Ben Wegner had a monster game with 25 points, 18 rebounds and three steals Thursday night as the Wolves started fast and beat Audubon 66-51 in Western Iowa Conference boys basketball action. IKM-M built a 21-8 lead after one quarter and was able to hold off every Wheeler rally attempt the rest of the way, pulling away in the fourth with a 20-13 advantage. 

 GLENWOOD -- There have been some tough nights for the Harlan Community girls basketball team so far this season, so Friday’s 60-38 win at Glenwood provided a chance for the Cyclones to relax and have fun. Putting together its best start in weeks and blowing open a close game with a resounding 30-4 run during the second and third quarters, HCHS capped a season sweep of the Rams and wrapped up Hawkeye Ten Conference play in seventh place with a

 UNDERWOOD -- Karley Larson hit six 3-pointers and scored 22 points Thursday night, leading the Underwood girls past AHSTW 61-27. The Lady Vikes trailed 39-14 at halftime. 

 MANNING -- The IKM-Manning girls overcame a sluggish first half to beat Audubon 42-38 Thursday night behind 21 points and five 3-pointers from Kia Rasmussen. The Wolves trailed 20-14 at halftime before outscoring the Wheelers 28-18 the rest of the way. Shauna Reitan added 13 points and six rebounds for IKM-M, which also scored a 68-61 win at Logan-Magnolia on Friday night.

 GUTHRIE CENTER -- Led by first-place finishes from Gabe Pauley and Erik Jorgensen, AHSTW qualified four wrestlers for districts and Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton added one qualifier at Saturday’s Class 1-A, Sectional 13 Tournament held in Guthrie Center. Panorama won the meet with 235 points and AHSTW took second with 191.5, advancing both teams to 1-A regional duals competition on Tuesday night.

 HARLAN -- Nick Tarney made it official on Wednesday morning, signing a national letter of intent to play football at Wayne State College. The Harlan Community High School senior and son of Ted and Lori Tarney, rural Avoca, chose the Wayne, Nebraska school after also looking closely at Minnesota State-Mankato, Augustana and William Jewell. A two-sport standout in football and baseball at HCHS, Tarney was recruited by the Wildcats as a fullback

 HARLAN -- Harlan Community Activities Director Mitch Osborn announced earlier this week the hiring of Willie Baughman as the Cyclones’ new head volleyball coach, pending school board approval. Baughman is in his fourth year as a math teacher at Harlan Community and was the 7th grade volleyball coach his first two years.

 HARLAN -- Brushing aside yet another inauspicious start, the Harlan Community girls basketball team put to rest its four-game losing skid Tuesday night with a 64-58 win over Atlantic. HCHS fell behind 10-0 in the opening minutes - continuing a recent trend of slow starts - but regrouped quickly to finish the first quarter with a 20-19 lead.

 REGIONAL -- The Harlan Community girls basketball team will be sent east for this year’s Class 4-A regional tournament, traveling from Adel to Huxley to possibly Pella if they can keep on winning. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union announced its regional pairings for Class 4-A and 5-A on Monday, placing HCHS in a six-team Region 8 bracket.

 AVOCA -- The AHSTW boys basketball team moved one step closer to a possible Western Iowa Conference title here Tuesday night, outscoring IKM-Manning 86-74 behind Rhett Welsh’s career-high 29 points and 17 boards. Jon Brandt countered with a career-best 30 points for the Wolves, who threatened to rally several times after falling behind 44-30 at halftime. AHSTW finished with a 16-point advantage at the free throw line - making 26-of-35 attempt

 AVOCA -- IKM-Manning’s three-point shooting proved to be the difference maker on Tuesday night in a 65-55 girls basketball win at AHSTW. The Wolves connected on 9-of-21 treys in the game, led by Kia Rasmussen’s 4-of-10, while the Lady Vikes misfired on all eight of their long-range attempts. IKM-M outscored AHSTW 20-11 in the second quarter to build a 33-21 halftime lead and was able to hold on despite the Lady Vikes keeping it close by shoot