The Exira-EHK Spartans traveled to Dunlap on Saturday for a Varsity Basketball Doubleheader against the Boyer Valley Bulldogs and came away with two hard fought victories: 59-44 in the girls game and 66-62 in the boys contest.

In the Girls contest the Spartans found themselves in a tight battle from the onset. The Spartans had to rally in the first quarter to take a 12-10 lead and then had to come back again in the second quarter to head to the locker room tied at 24 at halftime. The Spartans made took much care of the basketball in the second half and slowly pulled away for a 59-44 win.  Kealey Nelson had a big game for the Spartans with 26 points, 14 of those in the fourth quarter.

Exira-EHK had to win the game without their top scorer Sophia Peppers who went down late in the first quarter with an ankle injury and did not return. The third-ranked Spartans improve to 6-0 on the young season and next will host Coon Rapids-Bayard on Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs were led by 10 points from Erin Weber. They fall to 4-2 on the season and next will travel to West Harrison on Tuesday.

The Boys game started in a similar fashion with the Spartans leading a tight game 16-13 at the end of the first quarter.  Senior Drew Buckholdt erupted for 13 points in the second quarter and the Spartans pushed their lead to 12 at the half 34-22.  Boyer Valley would find their way back into the game in the second half.  The Bulldogs splashed down 6 three-pointers in the third quarter to get back within 3. The Spartans started the 4th quarter with a couple of quick buckets to push the lead back to 7. The Bulldogs would try to rally late and got the margin back down to 3 but couldn’t get any closer. Dakota Rold came up with a huge offensive rebound off a Noah Pettepier free throw miss with under a minute to go and got fouled to get to the line for the double bonus. He hit the second of two free throws to make the lead 4 and that’s where it would stay. The Spartans won it 66-62.

Drew Buckholdt finished with 22 points to lead the Spartans, who improve to 5-0 on the season.  Next up the Spartans host Coon Rapids-Bayard on Tuesday.

Boyer Valley was led in the loss by Joe Weber with 24 points.  The Bulldogs are now 3-2 and will travel to West Harrison on Tuesday.