HUXLEY (Jan.

 HUXLEY (Jan. 21) -- The Harlan Community boys became the latest victim of a red-hot Ballard team Tuesday night, allowing a season high for points in a 78-54 loss to the 10th-ranked (3A) Bombers. Ballard, which started the season 2-3, has now won six of its last seven games to improve to 8-4 overall. The Bombers won at top-ranked Carroll by 26 points (68-42) last Tuesday, followed by a 62-60 win at No.

 COUNCIL BLUFFS (Jan. 20) -- As the final seconds ticked away on Harlan Community’s 49-35 win over the St.

 COUNCIL BLUFFS (Jan. 20) -- Outside of some shaky free throw shooting, Monday’s fourth quarter at St. Albert was largely stress free by Harlan Community standards. No last-second shots were required.

 MANNING (Jan.

 ELK HORN (Jan. 21) -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton girls basketball team extended its win streak to 13 games here Tuesday night with a 58-36 home win over Paton-Churdan.

 ELK HORN (Jan. 21) -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton boys bounced back from a tough loss Monday to defeat Paton-Churdan 44-35 on Tuesday night in Elk Horn, improving to 7-5 overall and 6-4 in the Rolling Valley Conference. The Spartans led 24-21 at the half before outscoring the Rockets 6-4 in the third quarter and 14-10 in the fourth to complete a regular season sweep. Creighton Nelson led a balanced Spartan scoring attack with 11 points.

    AVOCA -- Doris “Jeanie” Mertz, 96, Avoca, died January 30 at Avoca Specialty Care.    Services will be held Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 10:30 a.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca.    Mertz is survived by her husband, LaVerne Mertz, of Avoca; son Ron (Michele) Beckler of Santa Ana, CA; daughter Susan (Jerry) Pells of La Salle, CO; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

    HARLAN -- Edna Lucille Paulsen, 98, Harlan, died February 2 at Elm Crest Retirement Community.    Services will be held Saturday, Feb. 8 at 10:30 a.m. at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan with burial in the Harlan Cemetery.  Visitation is Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the funeral home.    Paulsen is survived by sons Rev. Dr. Wayne (Julie) Paulsen of Wichita, KS and Rueben (JoAnn) Paulsen of Overland Park, KS; daughter Mary Kay (Rev.