CHURDAN (Jan. 19) -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton girls basketball team improved to 14-0 overall and 10-0 in the Rolling Valley Conference Tuesday night with a 64-47 win at Paton-Churdan. The sixth-ranked Spartan girls trailed 20-13 after the first quarter before outscoring the host Rockets 21-4 in the second.

 COUNCIL BLUFFS (Jan. 18) -- The AHSTW girls basketball team picked up a solid non-conference road win Monday night, surging ahead in the third quarter and holding off St.

 MANNING (Jan.

 MANNING (Jan. 19) -- The IKM-Manning boys basketball team picked up its fourth win in six games Tuesday night, pulling away in the second half of a defensive battle to outlast Riverside 40-26 and avenge last month’s overtime loss in Oakland. The Wolves led just 16-13 at halftime before outscoring the Bulldogs 11-5 in the third quarter and 13-8 in the fourth.

 AVOCA -- AHSTW senior Chloe Falkena reviewed her list of pros and cons. Ultimately, she decided that the cons didn’t matter. Falkena wanted to continue her running career at the next level, and Minnesota State University, Mankato was “just the right fit.” On Monday, January 4, Falkena made it official by signing a national letter of intent to attend Minnesota State and join the women’s cross country and track and field teams starting in the f

 MOUNT AYR (Jan.

 NEOLA (Jan.

 NEOLA (Jan. 16) -- IKM-Manning was held to eight points or less in each quarter and shot 21.7 percent from the field during Saturday night’s 64-25 boys basketball loss at Tri-Center. The Trojans, who shot 51.1 percent and made 8-of-17 three-pointers, improved to 9-2 overall and 8-2 inside the Western Iowa Conference. Senior Leyton Nelson led the way with 20 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two blocked shots.

 AVOCA (Jan. 12) -- The fourth-ranked (2A) AHSTW boys basketball team dominated its home game vs.

 AVOCA (Jan. 12) -- The AHSTW girls basketball team lost a close one at home against Audubon last Tuesday night, falling 52-49 in Western Iowa Conference action. The game was tight throughout as the Lady Vikes led 17-13 after one quarter and 25-22 at the half, then trailed 38-37 after three. AHSTW shot 33.3 percent from the field (17-of-51) and was outrebounded 32-27.

 MANNING (Jan. 12) -- Playing for the first time since a 64-35 loss to Underwood, the IKM-Manning girls basketball team left the court feeling a lot better about Tuesday’s performance in a 47-42 home defeat vs.

 MANNING (Jan.

 ELK HORN (Jan. 12) -- The seventh-ranked Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton girls basketball team improved to 12-0 overall here Tuesday night with a 70-38 win over Glidden-Ralston, sweeping the season series in Rolling Valley Conference action.

 ELK HORN (Jan. 12) -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton boys improved to 7-4 overall and 7-2 in the Rolling Valley Conference Tuesday night with a 66-43 win over Glidden-Ralston. Leading scorers for the Spartans were Tyler Petersen with 23 points, Cash Emgarten 15, Easton Nelson nine and Trey Petersen eight.
   Exira-EHK trailed 14-9 after one quarter before outscoring the Wildcats 17-7, 23-14 and 17-8 over the final three periods.

 GLENWOOD (Jan. 12) -- The top-ranked Glenwood girls took control early and added a finishing statement late here Tuesday night, beating No. 11 Harlan Community 79-46 to sweep the season series. HCHS, which has now lost nine straight to the Rams in girls basketball, saw its five-game winning streak come to an end and dropped to 9-3 overall.