Tuesday’s Twin Lakes Conference doubleheader began with Emmetsburg’s fending off an Alta Aurelia rally for a 50-46 win in the girls game.
The E-Hawks never trailed as they scored the opening five points, later went on a 9-0 run in the 1st quarter, and led 16-6 after eight minutes. Emmetsburg built the lead as high as 15 midway through the 2nd quarter. From there, the Warriors went on a 7-0 run and got within 29-20 at the half.
Alta Aurelia got as close as three during the 3rd quarter, and Emmetsburg was up 37-32 going to the 4th. The Warriors got within two points on three occasions in the 4th quarter, including as late as 2:46 to go on a basket by Nora Peterson to make the score 45-43. The E-Hawks scored five straight from that point to lead by seven with 47 seconds left. A bucket by Hayden Berkland and then a free throw by Jaci DeGroot made it a four-point game with 16 seconds left. Alta Aurelia committed a foul soon after the inbound, and Emmetsburg missed both free throws, but a Warriors three was missed in the final seconds, and Emmetsburg dribbled out the clock.
Ella Nielsen and Peterson each scored 14 for the Warriors, and Berkland had 12. Rachel Schany had 24 for Emmetsburg as they are now 11-8, 5-4 Twin Lakes, dropping Alta Aurelia to 9-9, 4-5.
Warriors coach Dana Christen spoke afterward…
In the boys game, Emmetsburg buried a school-record 16 threes in their 94-61 win over Alta Aurelia.
The Warriors scored four straight to begin the game, but Emmetsburg followed with a 16-0 run. The E-Hawks led by 13 late in the 1st quarter and were ahead 24-13 after eight minutes. The Warriors pulled within four early in the 2nd, but a 10-2 finish to the 1st half put Emmetsburg on top 41-30. The E-Hawks piled on from there and got the continuous clock going with five minutes left.
Adam Stephan had a career-high 21 points for Alta Aurelia followed by Ayden Dullea with 11. Kale Fank had 27 for Emmetsburg, and Byron Maina had 26. Those two combined for 12 of Emmetsburg’s threes, as they are now 15-3, 8-1 TLC. The Warriors go to 10-7, 6-4.
The Alta Aurelia teams host Storm Lake St. Mary’s Thursday, and then host Newell Fonda on Friday. The Friday doubleheader will be broadcast on Mix 101.7FM.