The Exira-EHK Spartans girls basketball team will have a chance to get back to the State Tournament on Monday night after knocking off the CAM Cougars 63-49 on Friday in Elk Horn. Kealey Nelson was the early catalyst for the Spartans dropping in 15 points in the first half and securing a number of big rebounds. The Spartans had a 12-7 edge by the end of the first quarter and pushed it out to a 32-24 advantage by halftime. The Spartans inched away further in the second half and led 48-35 after three quarters. The Spartans then secured the game by making 10-12 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Exira-EHK Head Coach Tom Petersen didn’t think his team played their best basketball. Sophia Peppers had a slow night by her standards with 11 points and Coach Petersen said they know teams are going to focus on trying to stop her and others have to step up.

Kealey Nelson finished with 17 points to lead the Spartans and Kamryn Waymire had 11 including three triples. The Spartans improved to 22-1 with the win and Coach Petersen said he was proud that his team found a way to move on.

CAM had three players in double figures led by Madison Gettler with 12 points. Paige McAfee and Sami Jahde each had 11. The Cougars hung tough through much of the game but couldn’t overcome a large number of turnovers and some sporadic shooting. The Cougars season comes to an end with a record of 18-5.

The Spartans improved to 22-1 and will now play a rubber-match against Boyer Valley in the Regional Final on Monday night. That game will be played at AHSTW High School in Avoca with a 7:00pm tip-off. Jim Field will have that game starting with an audio only broadcast on KJANTV and we’ll join the game on the air as well after the conclusion of Atlantic vs. Denison in boys playoff hoops.

SEMI-FINALS

113

• Briar Reisz (Logan-Magnolia) beat Heath Moyer (North Linn) 8-5

126

• Alex Thomsen (Underwood) beat Easton Larson (Don Bosco) 25-10 (Tech Fall 3:36)

145

• Garret Thompson (Logan-Magnolia) lost to Cooper Siebrecht (Lisbon) 7-1

152

• Skeeter Bostwick (Missouri Valley) lost to Trey Brisker (Wilton) 11-1

170

• Gabe Pauley (AHSTW) beat Chase McCleish (Newman Catholic) 10-5

182

• Trevor Carey (Panorama) lost to Garet Sims (Iowa Valley) FALL 1:24

220

• Tom Rief (Missouri Valley) beat Nicholas Gaes (Alta/Aurelia) 8-3

3rd ROUND CONSOLATION

120

• Blake Thomsen (Underwood) beat Uvaldo Camarillo (Postville) FALL 5:40

126

• Wyatt Crocker (Logan-Magnolia) beat Danny Nordquist (Panorama) 14-6
• Teagan Lundquist (Southwest Valley) lost to Nolan Noonan (Cascade) 6-5

132

• Wyatt Appleseth (Panorama) lost to Koby Hanson (NW Webster) 10-6
• Logan James (Underwood) lost to Gabriel Lewis (Denver) 3-1

170

• Nathan Haynes (Missouri Valley) beat Gunnar Grunsted (Panorama) 3-2

182

• Derek Venteicher (Bedford/Lenox) lost to Manning Kuboushek (South Winneshiek) 3-2

195

• Dalton Holmes (Panorama) lost to Wes Geisler (Hudson) 4-3

285

• Arron Olson (Missouri Valley) lost to Brock Farley (Denver) 2-1

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Pitcher Bud Norris and the St. Louis Cardinals finalized a $3 million, one-year contract on Wednesday as the team started spring training workouts.

The 32-year-old right-hander led the Los Angeles Angels with 19 saves in 23 chances last season. He went 2-6 with a 4.23 ERA in three starts and 57 relief appearances, striking out 74 in 62 innings.

He is 68-84 with a 4.49 ERA over nine major league seasons, making 188 starts and 103 relief appearances with Houston (2009-13), Baltimore (2013-15), San Diego (2015), Atlanta (2016), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2016) and the Angels.

He can earn additional performance bonuses: $250,000 each for five, 10, 15 and 20 starts, and $200,000 apiece for 40, 50 and 60 relief appearances. To clear a roster spot, right-hander Rowan Wick was designated for assignment.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs signed free-agent cornerback David Amerson on Friday to provide secondary depth.

The veteran cornerback has made 56 starts and appeared in 68 games over five seasons with the Washington Redskins and the Chiefs’ AFC West rival, the Oakland Raiders. He’s made 249 tackles, picked off eight passes and returned two four touchdowns.

The Chiefs spent much of last year searching for a cornerback to start opposite Marcus Peters, and ultimately signed Darrelle Revis late in the season. Revis was released this past week.

The Chiefs are also due to get Kendall Fuller from the Redskins once their trade of Alex Smith to Washington becomes official next month. Kansas City also gets a draft pick in the deal.

SEMI-FINALS

145

• Trevor Anderson (Glenwood) lost to Cade DeVos (SE Polk) 7-2

152

• Lanny Herzog (CB Abraham Lincoln) lost to Cayd Lara (Fort Dodge) FALL 2:45

285

• Caleb Sanders (Glenwood) beat Griffin Liddle (Bettendorf) 9-3

3rd ROUND CONSOLATION

145

• Gabriel Kjelgaard (Lewis Central) beat Dalton Woodyard (Waverly-Shell Rock) 3-2

182

• Anthony Sherry (Glenwood) beat Devin Ludwig (Western Dubuque) 11-10

220

• Isaac Bales (Glenwood) beat Travis Theisen (LeMars) 5-3

106

• Connor Attkisson (Tri-Center) lost to Jaymus Wilson (Alburnett) FALL 4:26

113

• Briar Reisz (Logan-Magnolia) beat Will Martin (Moravia) 9-1

120

• Blake Thomsen (Underwood) lost to Daniel Meeker (Wapello) 8-6

126

• Wyatt Crocker (Logan-Magnolia) lost to Easton Larson (Don Bosco) 12-0
• Alex Thomsen (Underwood) beat Logan Heaberlin (Belmond-Klemme) 22-5 (Tech Fall 4:55)
• Teagan Lundquist (Southwest Valley) lost to Jacob McBride (Newman Catholic) 6-3

132

• Logan James (Underwood) lost to Donny Schmit (Wapsie Valley) 6-4

145

• Garret Thompson (Logan-Magnolia) beat Chance Downs (Maquoketa Valley) FALL :45

152

• Skeeter Bostwick (Missouri Valley) beat Garrett Arment (Woodbury Central) 7-2

170

• Gabe Pauley (AHSTW) beat Cael Krueger (Denver) 3-1 (OT)
• Nathan Haynes (Missouri Valley) lost to Bryce Werderman (Lisbon) 10-4

182

• Derek Venteicher (Bedford/Lenox) lost to Zach Ryg (Central Springs) FALL 3:19
• Trevor Carey (Panorama) beat Christian Wolthuizen (Akron-Westfield) 17-7

195

• Joey Wolf (Woodbine) lost to Gabe Irons (Lake Mills) FALL 1:24

220

• Tom Rief (Missouri Valley) beat Monte Pottebaum (West Lyon) FALL 1:40

285

• Arron Olson (Missouri Valley) lost to Chase Arends (Dike-New Hartford) 3-2

2nd ROUND CONSOLATION

106

• Connor Attkisson (Tri-Center) lost to Brooks Meyer (Denver) FALL 1:35

120

• Blake Thomsen (Underwood) beat Christian Nichols (Emmetsburg) 20-4

126

• Danny Nordquist (Panorama) beat Logan Heaberlin (Belmond-Klemme) 9-4
• Teagan Lundquist (Southwest Valley) beat Dakota Henry (Belle Plaine) 10-8
• Wyatt Crocker (Logan-Magnolia) beat Mitchell Hayes (Starmont) FALL 1:54

132

• Wyatt Appleseth (Panorama) beat Blake Abrahamson (Okoboji) 6-5
• Logan James (Underwood) beat Ryne Mohrfeld (Lisbon) 16-3

152

• Drew Venteicher (Bedford/Lenox) lost to Garrett Arment (Woodbury Central) 5-2
• Michael Baker (Underwood) lost to Keaton Baayen (Pekin) 5-3

170

• Gunnar Grunsted (Panorama) beat Brayden Lyman (Eagle Grove) 9-3
• Nathan Haynes (Missouri Valley) beat Hunter Clasen (Bellevue) FALL 1:17

182

• Derek Venteicher (Bedford/Lenox) beat Hunter Connor (Louisa-Muscatine) FALL 3:11

195

• Gavyn Fischer (AHSTW) lost to Jake Jennett (Lisbon) FALL 2:29
• Dalton Holmes (Panorama) beat Darius Gashe (West Monona-Whiting) 8-3
• Joey Wolf (Woodbine) lost to Wes Geisler (Hudson) 11-7

220

• Dalton Arnold (Coon Rapids-Bayard) lost to Marquise Paino (Tripoli) 8-3

285

• Arron Olson (Missouri Valley) beat Matthew Kauffman (Pleasantville) FALL :27

The Exira-EHK Spartans will play host to the CAM Cougars in a Class 1A Region 7 Semifinal tonight in Elk Horn and we’ll have it on KJAN. This will be the third meeting between the squads this year with the Spartans prevailing in the first two. Exira-EHK won 63-53 at home on December 15th in the first meeting, a game that was much closer than the final score. The Cougars had a two point lead heading into the fourth quarter of that first game, but the Spartans outscored them 19-7 in the fourth quarter to pull off the win. The second meeting was won a little more handily by the Spartans on January 23rd 66-45. The Spartans led by 10 at half in that game and blew it open with a 24-6 third quarter advantage.

Both teams had to win to advance to this semifinal. The Cougars won a first round game over Griswold 40-36 and followed that with a quarterfinal win over Stanton 76-42. The Spartans were 77-23 winners over Riverside in their quarterfinal round game.

The winner will advance to the Regional Final against the winner of the Boyer Valley vs. Fremont-Mills game. That final will be played on Monday in Avoca at 7:00pm.

Chris Parks will have the call from Elk Horn tonight with pregame at 6:50pm and tip-off at 7:00pm. Tune in on-air, online, and on the mobile app.

106

• Tanner Wink (Lewis Central) lost to Ethan Wood-Finley (IC High) FALL 3:39

145

• Trevor Anderson (Glenwood) beat Gabriel Kjelgaard (Lewis Central) 5-3

152

• Lanny Herzog (CB Abraham Lincoln) beat Ryker Kurimski (Western Dubuque) 6-0

182

• Anthony Sherry (Glenwood) lost to Joel Shapiro (WDM Valley) 5-0

220

• Isaac Bales (Glenwood) lost to Greg Hagan (Dowling Catholic) 5-2
• Jaden Heiden (Denison) lost to Francis Duggan (IC West) 21-6 (Tech Fall 4:12)

285

• Caleb Sanders (Glenwood) beat Jacob Murry (IC High) FALL 1:42

2nd ROUND CONSOLATION

106

• Tanner Wink (Lewis Central) lost to Austin Kegley (CR Prairie) 5-4

126

• Tanner Higgins (Lewis Central) lost to Brock Espalin (DM East) 10-2

138

• Kyle Kuckta (Lewis Central) lost to Nathan Marchand (SE Polk) FALL 3:28

145

• Gabriel Kjelgaard (Lewis Central) beat Alan Ayers (Ankeny Centennial) 5-1

160

• Brett Mower (Glenwood) lost to Bryson Hervol (Waverly-Shell Rock) 19-3 (Tech Fall 4:10)

182

• Anthony Sherry (Glenwood) beat Will Hoeft (IC West) FALL 3:20

195

• Kenny Lampman (Glenwood) lost to Gabe Christenson (SE Polk) 11-3

220

• Jaden Heiden (Denison) lost to Beau Lombardi (WDM Valley) 6-4
• Isaac Bales (Glenwood) beat Isaiah Garman (Linn-Mar) FALL 1:18

106

• Benjamin Schmitz (Kuemper Catholic) beat Mason Hill (Cherokee Washington) FALL 1:06

126

• Kole Hansen (Atlantic/CAM) lost to Kayden Kaularich (Centerville) 9-5

132

• Chase McLaren (Atlantic/CAM) lost to Chase Luensman (Monticello) 3-2

145

• Mitchell Swank (Creston/O-M) lost to Tanner Abbas (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows) 3-2

160

• Connor Pellett (Atlantic/CAM) lost to Zach Williams (Osage) FALL 1:32

182

• Thomas Bentley (Red Oak) beat Jarron Trausch (PCM) FALL 1:09
• Nick Dickerson (Shenandoah) lost to Julien Broderson (Assumption) FALL 1:00

195

• Nick Foss (Harlan) lost to Nick Smith (Central DeWitt) Injury Default 5:43

220

• Colton Kinnison (Red Oak) lost to Jordan Baumler (North Fayette Valley) FALL 1:02

285

• John McConkey (Atlantic/CAM) beat Cooper Lawson (Webster City) 3-1
• Blake Sevier (Creston/O-M) lost to Spencer Trenary (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows) FALL :33

2nd Round Consolation

106

• Johnathon Erp (Red Oak) lost to Kolten Crawford (Union) FALL 2:52

126

• Kole Hansen (Atlantic/CAM) beat Hunter Pfantz (West Marshall) 13-1
• Kolby Hulett (Creston/O-M) lost to Morgan Rowley (Anamosa) FALL 1:11

132

• Chase McLaren (Atlantic/CAM) beat Brody Roll (Osage) FALL 1:32

145

• Mitchell Swank (Creston/O-M) beat Scott Betterton (Vinton-Shellsburg) 10-3

152

• Justin McCunn (Red Oak) beat Baylor Crigger (Camanche) 6-5

160

• Connor Pellett (Atlantic/CAM) lost Cavin Mallory (Williamsburg) 8-2

170

• Carter Maynes (Red Oak) lost to Jack Neuhaus (West Delaware) 11-6

182

• Nick Dickerson (Shenandoah) lost to Hunter Maitland (AP-GC) FALL 3:17

195

• Nick Foss (Harlan) beat Harrison Goebel (West Delaware) 4-3

220

• Colton Kinnison (Red Oak) lost to Dakoda Powell (Spirit Lake Park) FALL :56

285

• Blake Sevier (Creston/O-M) beat Jacob Knutson (Crestwood) 3-2 (2OT)