Hayden Fry, the Texan who revived Iowa football and became a Hawkeye State institution, has died. He was 90. Fry’s family announced through the University of Iowa that the coach died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer. The native of Eastland, Texas, had never been to Iowa before taking over the Hawkeyes in 1979. The team had slogged through 17 consecutive years without a winning season. He coached at Iowa for 20 seasons, winning 238 games and three Big Ten championships. He played quarterback at Baylor and his first college head coaching job was at SMU.

The statement released by Fry’s family was:

“With our family at his side, Hayden Fry, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away following a lengthy battle with cancer.  We are comforted in our faith and knowing that Hayden is no longer suffering and resides now in heaven with our Lord.  Hayden passed on Dec. 17, at the age of 90.

We are proud to know that our father’s life had a positive influence on so many people, the players, the coaches, and the fans who played for, worked with, and supported his long and successful coaching career. His legend will live forever with the people he touched and inspired, and the programs he led to greater heights.

Though Hayden was born in Texas and moved there more recently to be closer to our family, his love for the University of Iowa, his players and coaches, the people of Iowa, and the state of Iowa, is well known.  Hayden often shared, “I’ll Always Be a Hawkeye”.

 Our family would like to pass along our heartfelt thanks to the caregivers who made Hayden’s comfort their priority.

 We cannot thank everyone enough for their love and support. Your thoughts and prayers are truly appreciated.

 Memorial Services are pending and will be announced at a later date.”

Current Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz commented, “Hayden Fry is a college football icon and an Iowa legend. His Hall of Fame career is well known, but personally, he will always be the man who took a chance on me at the start of my coaching career. I was proud to coach with him and honored to succeed him when he retired. He’s been a great mentor and a true friend. I am forever grateful to him.

Mary and I send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Shirley, their children and the entire Fry family. We hope that Hayden’s legacy of integrity and high character will provide his family comfort during this difficult time.”

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Hawkeye Ten Conference

Atlantic 56, Kuemper Catholic 55
Creston 45, Shenandoah 35
Glenwood 76, Lewis Central 71
Red Oak 69, Carroll 37

Western Iowa Conference

AHSTW 76, Missouri Valley 33
Audubon 73, Riverside 27
Treynor 47, Tri-Center 15

Rolling Valley Conference

CAM 53, Glidden-Ralston 50
Paton-Churdan 56, West Harrison 34

Corner Conference

East Mills 52, Heartland Christian 20
Fremont-Mills 38, Sidney 35

Pride of Iowa Conference

Central Decatur 63, Southeast Warren 29
Nodaway Valley 67, Bedford 32
Southwest Valley 63, Lenox 31
Wayne 57, East Union 35

Other Scores

ADM 64, Carlisle 59
Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln 55, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 27
LeMars 46, Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson 29
OABCIG 61, River Valley 43

BOYS BASKETBALL

Hawkeye Ten Conference

Atlantic 66, Kuemper Catholic 41
Creston 68, Shenandoah 34
Omaha Roncalli, NE 72, St. Albert, Council Bluffs 47

Western Iowa Conference

AHSTW 78, Missouri Valley 48
Audubon 54, Riverside 43
Logan-Magnolia 46, Underwood 40
Treynor 50, Tri-Center 41

Rolling Valley Conference

Boyer Valley 42, Woodbine 36
CAM 74, Glidden-Ralston 51
Coon Rapids-Bayard 67, Ar-We-Va 29

Corner Conference

East Mills 64, Heartland Christian 50
Sidney 60, Fremont-Mills 57
Stanton 95, Essex 15

Pride of Iowa Conference

Central Decatur 75, Southeast Warren 29
Nodaway Valley 60, Bedford 43
Southwest Valley 64, Lenox 54

Other Scores

CB Abraham Lincoln 48, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 43 OT
Earlham 69, ACGC 56
LeMars 65, CB Thomas Jefferson 54
Van Meter 67, Panorama 52

The Atlantic boys basketball team used a blistering 3rd quarter spurt to propel them to a 66-41 win over Kuemper Catholic on Tuesday. Both offenses struggled to a 22-all tie by the end of the first half, but the Trojans found their stride after the break led by hot shooting from Skyler Handlos. Handlos dropped 21 of his 29 points in the game during that third quarter, helping the Trojans outscore the Knights 27-8 in that period. The Trojans would play solid enough the rest of the way to secure their second win of the season.

Junior post-man Garrett Reynolds said a big part of the game-plan was to limit the Knights to one attempt each trip.

Senior Nile Petersen finished with 8 points on the night and worked hard in the paint all night. The Trojans did a good job sharing the ball away from traffic in the second half, and Petersen said they have been working on that.

Head Coach Jeff Ebling was proud of a number of guys stepping up after Tyler Moen went out early in the game with an injury.

Atlantic improves to 2-3 on the year and will host Lewis Central on Friday and Winterset on Saturday to close out the pre-holiday schedule.

Kuemper Catholic was led by 9 points from Tyler Putney and 8 from Cole Collison. The Knights fall to 1-4 and are off for the break now.

The Atlantic girls basketball team grabbed a victory over the Kuemper Catholic Knights 56-55 in a hard fought game on Tuesday night. The Trojans led for much of the game but Kuemper Catholic kept doing enough to make the Trojans work hard for the win. Atlantic led 15-7 at the end of the first and 26-21 at halftime. It was just a two point lead for the Trojans at 38-36 heading into the 4th quarter, but the Trojans grabbed control with an 11-0 run to start that final session. Kuemper clawed their way back within 4 late, and a last second three by Mallory Badding set the final 1 point margin.

Atlantic was led by 18 points from Haley Rasmussen and 15 from McKenzie Waters. Lauren Nicholas finished with 8 points on the night and she said the Trojans have played with more confidence in their last few victories.

Taylor McCreedy dropped in 7 points for Atlantic, despite sitting the second quarter with two early fouls. She said the game was a good learning experience for herself and the team.

Trojan Head Coach Dan Vargason said the offense is improving for Atlantic and the role players have made the difference.

Atlantic improves to 4-3 on the season and will play a make-up game against Denison-Schleswig on Thursday night.

Kuemper Catholic was led by 21 points from Mallory Badding. The Knights fall to 1-6 and are now off for the holiday break.

Tri @ ACGC

Pleasantville, 55 ACGC 18
Pleasantville, 51 East Mills, 30
ACGC 42 East Mills, 30

Tri @ Creston

Creston 57, Glenwood 24
Creston 63, Treynor 12
Treynor 35, Glenwood 30

Tri @ Denison

Sergeant Bluff-Luton 56 Sheldon/South O’Brien 21
Sergeant Bluff-Luton 57 Westwood 18
Sergeant Bluff-Luton 62 Denison/Schleswig 21
Sheldon/South O’Brien 60 Denison/Schleswig 18
Westwood 58 Denison/Schleswig 24

Tri @ I-35

At Interstate 35:

I-35 50, Bedford/Lenox 33
I-35 60, Chariton 24
Bedford/Lenox, 54, Chariton 30

Quad @ Red Oak

Logan-Magnolia 83 Clarinda Academy 0
Logan-Magnolia 59 Red Oak 22
Logan-Magnolia 67 Riverside 12
Red Oak 60 Clarinda Academy 26
Red Oak 53 Riverside 18
Riverside 51 Clarinda Academy 26

Tri @ Missouri Valley

Missouri Valley 78 Griswold 6
Missouri Valley 54 Nodaway Valley 23
Nodaway Valley 44 Griswold 6

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Liam Robbins had a career-high 25 points plus 10 rebounds as Drake extended its home win streak to seven games, beating Mount Marty 92-74 on Tuesday night.

Roman Penn had 16 points and seven rebounds for Drake (9-3). Antonio Pilipovic added 11 points and Anthony Murphy contributed 10 points.

Colby Johnson had 19 points and six rebounds for the Lancers. Jordan Johnson added 19 points and seven rebounds. Chris King had 17 points.

Drake plays Air Force on the road on Saturday.