HARLAN -- When it comes to defensive strategy, a long-held mantra by Harlan Community boys basketball coach Mitch Osborn is that three-pointers will not beat you. So even though Atlantic finished 15-of-33 from the three-point arch against a combination of zone and junk defenses Tuesday night, it was no surprise that a man with 656 career wins was once again proven correct. Countering Atlantic’s long-range attack with 10 treys of their own, fo

 ATLANTIC -- Nicole Lange led four Harlan Community players in double figures with 20 points while adding seven rebounds and four assists as the Cyclone girls topped Atlantic 67-49 in their first game of the new year Tuesday night. Allison Bruck also had a big game with 18 points and nine steals, Lexi Larsen totaled 11 points, six rebounds and six assists and Bailey Hansen scored 11 points as well. The Cyclones knocked down 9-of-21 three-point

 AVOCA -- The AHSTW wrestling team finished 1-1 in a home double dual Tuesday night, losing to Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln 37-28 and beating Riverside 63-13. A.L. won the meet by defeating Riverside 42-33. Five Vikings wrestlers finished 2-0 on the night, led by 106-pounder Joel Sampson recording a pair of first period wins by fall.

Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton Spartan Girls Basketball Team Front row, L-R: Sadie Schultes, Rachel Walker, Mara Burmeister, Sophia Peppers, Maggie Rasmussen, Kealey Nelson, Alex Petersen. Back row, L-R: Head Coach Tom Petersen, Assistant Coach Hilary Runyan, Jacey Anthofer, Lauren Hansen, Damian Peterson, Grace Greving, Leslie Caniglia, Kamryn Waymire, Ellie Schultes, Assistant Coach Cory Bartz. (Photo courtesy of Beth Hansen)
 

 MARYVILLE, MO.

AHSTW Girls Varsity & JV Basketball Teams Front row, L-R: Josie Denning, Lexy Knop, Emma Jorgensen, Ashley Lees, Jaycie Schueman, Sidney Nelsen, Katie Anzalone, Paige Osweiler. Back row, L-R: Hayli Paulsen, Kaitlyn Zimmerman, Sarah Butcher, Kinsey Scheffler, Kate Wise, Morgan Eckmann, Saige Huss, Tristin Heiny. (Photo by Mike Oeffner)
 

IKM-Manning Girls Varsity Basketball Team Front row, L-R: Rylie Muhlbauer, Payton Sporrer, Kia Rasmussen, Aly Stadtlander, Shauna Reitan, Katelyn Crawford, Paige Gaskill. Back row, L-R: Head Coach Gene Rasmussen, Sadie Thompson, Sydney Wegner, Caitlin Muhlbauer, Kira Barry, Erin Langel, Peyton Gross, Gabby Cadwell, Taylor Gross (manager), Assistant Coach Joy Gross. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Storjohann, Carroll Daily Times Herald)
 

 DES MOINES -- One bad quarter led to a fourth straight loss for the Harlan Community boys basketball team last Friday in a neutral-site game at Wells Fargo Arena. Leading Mount Pleasant 30-27 at halftime, HCHS was outscored 24-13 in the third quarter and never recovered in a 70-63 loss to the Panthers. Mount Pleasant, which was one spot away from cracking the top 10 in last week’s Class 3-A (A.P.) state rankings, improved to 5-1 overall with

 AVOCA -- Rhett Welsh and R.J. Harris combined for 43 points and 19 rebounds last Thursday night as the AHSTW boys entered the holidays with a commanding 84-60 win vs. Underwood. In a battle for first place in the Western Iowa Conference standings, AHSTW led 27-17 after one quarter, 46-29 at the half and 69-43 after three.

 AVOCA -- Underwood’s Karley Larson knocked down 6-of-14 three-pointers and scored 32 points to lead the Eagle girls past AHSTW, 59-40, in Western Iowa Conference action last Thursday. AHSTW’s sixth straight loss dropped the Lady Vikes to 1-8 overall and 1-6 in the WIC as they entered a two-week holiday break.

 WESTSIDE -- Falling behind 39-24 at the half, Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton was unable to mount a second-half comeback in last Thursday’s 70-53 loss at sixth-ranked (1-A) Ar-We-Va. The unbeaten Rockets improved to 8-0 overall and 7-0 inside the Rolling Valley Conference while the Spartans entered the holiday break at 6-2 overall and 6-2 in the RVC. 

 WESTSIDE -- The third-rated Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton girls basketball team reached the Christmas break with a 9-0 record following last Thursday’s 66-21 win at Ar-We-Va. The Spartans, who also sport a 9-0 Rolling Valley Conference record, were led by Sophia Peppers’ 17 points and 13 rebounds against the winless Rockets (0-8, 0-7 RVC).

 MANNING – The growth of a basketball program was on full display Tuesday night as the AHSTW boys outlasted IKM-Manning on the road, 63-55, in Western Iowa Conference action. The Vikings scored the first 14 points of the game and stormed ahead 18-2 in the opening five minutes, then recovered and eventually pulled away after IKM-M rallied back to take a brief 36-34 lead early in the third quarter. To do both of those things in one night – lead

 COUNCIL BLUFFS -- Falling behind 22-4 against the fourth-ranked team in Class 4-A, Harlan Community fought back to make it a game but couldn’t get over the hump in a 60-49 boys basketball loss at Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln Tuesday night. HCHS closed within 37-27 at halftime and made it 53-46 with three minutes left before the unbeaten Lynx closed out their sixth win of the season. The Cyclones, who outrebounded A.L.

 ELK HORN -- Cole Burmeister led four Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton players in double figures with 15 points Tuesday night as the Spartan boys doubled up West Harrison 66-33 in Rolling Valley Conference action. Drew Buckholdt made 10-of-14 free throws and scored 14 points for Exira-EHK while Dakota Rold and Noah Pettepier both scored 11.