The HCHS varsity boys basketball team was hoping for redemption Tuesday night at home against the Denison-Schleswig Monarchs, after dropping their previous game to them on the road Dec. 9, but dropped the game in overtime, 69-63.

Junior Erica Rust and Sophomore Aubrey Schwieso both scored 22 points en route to victory over the Denison-Schleswig Monarchs on senior night. For the Cyclones, they snap their 2-game losing streak and earn their 10th win.
“It definitely feels good,” Schwieso said. “I think we needed some confidence and I think we came out and played a really good game tonight.”

Senior Hawkeye Koleson Evans stole the show with 25 points en route to a 78-58 victory over the Exira-EHK Spartans Monday night.
“We just had to compete,” said Spartans Head Coach Doug Newton. “Try to match their intensity, do the job on defense and execute on offense. They were a little better at it than we were early.”

Seniors Quinn Grubbs and Shay Burmeister led the Spartans in scoring as they cruised to their eighth consecutive victory, 72-25, over the West Harrison Hawkeyes.
“We wanted to make sure that we don’t develop bad habits while we were playing,” said Spartans Head Coach Tom Petersen. “I thought in the beginning we were kind of giving up too much dribble penetration, so we talked a little bit about it.”

Junior Franz Reisz and Senior Brad Curren led the way for the Cyclones Saturday afternoon in downtown Omaha at Creighton University en route to a 70-47 victory over the North Bend Tigers.
“We looked forward to it,” said Cyclones Head Coach Mitch Osborn. “We we’re playing somebody that doesn’t know you very well. I thought they were much better in-person than they were on film.”

The HCHS girls varsity basketball team went down to Omaha Saturday morning to Creighton University to battle the Oakland-Craig Knights, but came up just short, dropping a hard fought game, 48-42.
“We just talked about situations we’ve got to get better at,” said Cyclones Head Coach Zach Klaassen, after a hard loss.

The Exira-EHK boys varsity basketball team won their fourth game in a row Friday night at home against the CAM Cougars, 62-51.
“Anytime you get a win, it’s good, especially a conference win,” said Spartans Head Coach Doug Newton. “We just keep plugging along, trying to do what we can do, holding up our end of the bargain and see what we can do next time we face some of the other top foes in the conference.”

The Exira-EHK girls varsity basketball team continues to stay locked in, getting their seventh consecutive victory Friday night over the CAM Cougars, 62-39.

Senior Viking Ellie Peterson made history in Tuesday’s home win over the IKM-Manning Wolves by breaking the season blocks record for the second time.
“It means a lot,” Peterson said. “I didn’t know I could do this, but it just feels good to have a school record.”

Senior Kyle Sternberg led the way for the Vikings with 23 points on path to a 62-49 victory over the IKM-Manning Wolves.
“Kyle is a heck of a player,” said Vikings Head Coach G.G. Harris. “Tonight I thought he shot the ball pretty well and when he shoots the ball well, I think that really opens up a lot of things for our offense.”

Junior Franz Reisz led the Cyclones with 15 points on the night, handing the Kuemper Catholic Knights its second consecutive loss.
“Just the passing going into it, props to my teammates,” Reisz said. “They’re doing well and in the second quarter, I was in foul trouble, but other than that, our offense did really well.”

Kuemper Catholic Senior Guard Catherine Mayhall scored 18 points for the Knights en route to a 69-61 victory, giving them their eighth win of the season and snapping the Cyclones 3-game winning streak.

Senior Jenna Gessert has just signed a Letter of Intent to run cross country and track at Simpson College following the conclusion of her high school days.
“I’m just excited to continue my cross country and track career up at Simpson [College],” Gessert said.
Gessert expressed the excitement behind what drew her to choosing Simpson College.

With just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Junior Cash Emgarten had a slam dunk for the Spartans that got the crowd to its feet en route to a 65-46 second half victory over the Audubon Wheelers.

The Exira-EHK Spartans girls varsity basketball team continued their dominance winning their fifth consecutive victory over the Audubon Wheelers Saturday afternoon, 60-20.
“I think everybody is kind of getting a feel for each other,” said Spartans Head Coach Tom Petersen. “A new team every single year and it’s just taken a while for our chemistry to join together. I think the girls are gaining more confidence at times.”