The Exira-EHK Boys’ Basketball team is ready to kick off another season. However, this year will be a little different. After finishing second in the Rolling Valley Conference and making it to the regional semi-finals, Head Coach Tony Santistaben says the Spartans will have a bit of a new look.

Despite the loss of the seniors, Exira-EHK does have some promise in their returners. This includes senior Josh Nelson, who was third on the team in scoring last year (11.6 PPG) while being their most effective field goal shooter (58.8%) and the team’s best rebounder (7.5 RPG). In addition to stats on a scoresheet, Nelson along with Austin Rasmussen and Owen Juhl, have stepped up to help lead the younger players.

As with any young team, there will always be some kinks to iron out. From reads, shot selection, and pace of play, there are aspects of the game that one needs to see in order to better understand. However, Santistaben was pleased with what he saw during their jamboree on Tuesday.

Figuring out who you are as a team and what a particular group does well is almost always an important stepping stone to success for any team, but especially a young one. As the season is fast approaching the concept is near the top of Santistaben’s mind.

Exira-EHK will open up the season at home next Tuesday against the Woodbine Tigers.

The 2024 CAM Girls basketball has had a productive off season as they are reeling from an efficient 2023 campaign that included 21 wins and a regional final appearance. One of the strengths of last season’s squad was an experienced starting five all being seniors. Now a year later, CAM head coach Joe Wollum is having to start over with a new starting roster, filled with some familiar faces. Coach Wollum noted that the Cougars practices have been efficient and filled with a hunger to succeed.

Graduating five seniors is a tough task to overcome, but this CAM team has the right mindset heading into the season as the team strives to stay positive. Coach Wollum enjoys the attitude of this group but is honest about the growing that they need to do.

The 2024 Cougar team has seen some strong leadership from athletes like sophomore Ada Hansen and senior Maddie Richter. Hansen had 28 assists and scored over 100 points a year ago. Richter a transfer from Atlantic shot 30% from beyond the arc and tallied 143 points in 2023.

One hurdle for CAM this year will be their lack of size on the floor. Coach Wollum explained that his team will have to be creative with ways of defending the rim.

The expectations for Cougar basketball are to see continual growth throughout the season. The early part of the season will be dedicated to building chemistry, so the second half of the year will bring close games and wins.

CAM is 0-1 to start the year as they suffered a 54-51 loss to AHSTW this past Tuesday.

The Griswold Tigers volleyball team has a lot to be proud of when they look back at their 2024 season. The Tigers fought their way through a grueling schedule en route to finishing with a 17-16 record. Out of their 16 losses, 11 of them were to teams that made it to the regional semi-finals or finals.  Although the Tigers would’ve liked to see a better record, coach Jody Rossell thinks there is a lot to be proud of.

There were a lot of great moments for the Tigers this year. Senior Gabbie Greieman broke the record for the highest kill efficiency in a season (.332). A record that was set back in 1982.

Griswold’s season also included bounce-back wins versus very difficult teams in the Southwest Valley and ACGC.  Although the Tigers had lost teams to both in a tournament,  Griswold would secure wins against both. Rossell was very pleased with the amount of resiliency that her group showed. Although one of the Tigers’ resiliency, Rossell says the lessons go well beyond the game.

Unfortunately for Griswold, the Tigers graduated nine seniors this season. Although things might look a little different next season, there are plenty of girls who are ready to step up and fill in the gaps left by the outgoing seniors.

Although the Tigers wanted a few more wins, it is hard to say that a resilient team that fought through a difficult schedule, met goals and broke some records along the way a record along the way a way, would be unsuccessful.

Fifth ranked Iowa State raced away from a nine point halftime lead and crushed Colorado 99-71 in the fifth place game at the Maui Invitational. Milan Momcilovic led the way with 24 points ands Curtis Jones finished with 19 as ISU finished the tournament with a 2-1 record.

The Cyclones shot 60 percent for the game and forced 17 Colorado turnovers.

That’s ISU coach T.J. Otzelberger who felt the bench performed well as the tournament progressed.

The Cyclones are 5-1.

Wartburg opens the NCAA Division III playoffs at home on Saturday against Wisconsin-Platteville. These teams scrimmaged in the preseason and Wartburg coach Chris Winter says both teams have matured since then.

Winter says the style of play from Wisconsin-Platteville will be the same they saw in the scrimmage.

These teams have been scrimmaging in the preseason for more than a decade.

Winter says Wartburg’s playoff experience should help them manage what is expected to be cold conditions.

The Knights have made it to the national semifinals in each of the last two seasons.