Spartans win seventh game in a row

The Exira-EHK girls varsity basketball team continues to stay locked in, getting their seventh consecutive victory Friday night over the CAM Cougars, 62-39.

“I think lately we’ve been putting the game plan in place and that’s really been helping,” said Senior Quinn Grubbs. “We’re buying into the team and we’re moving the ball, we’re attacking, creating things for our teammates and I think that’s what’s really working well for us right now.”

The game got underway with the Spartans taking command right away going on a 9-0 run before Cougars head coach Joe Wollum called his first timeout with five minutes remaining in the quarter.

The Cougars got their first points on free throw attempts, but soon after, Grubbs hit a 3-point shot to put the Spartans up by 10. The Cougars made some noise before the quarter came to an end, cutting the Spartans to lead to five points.

45 seconds into the quarter, Grubbs launched another 3-pointer for the Spartans. Her teammate Senior Shay Burmeister hit a shot from 3-point range as well, giving the Spartans an 8-point lead. The Cougars were trying to stay within striking distance of the Spartans. They managed to cut the lead to 10 points when Spartans head coach Tom Petersen used a timeout with just under five minutes until halftime.

With the quarter drawing to a close, the Spartans got another opportunity for a 3-point play when Senior Makenzie Riley was fouled on a layup, sending her to the line where she added the extra point. The Spartans took a 35-21 point lead into the locker room at halftime.

Burmeister was leading the Spartans in scoring with 12 points at the half. Grubbs was right behind her with 11. For the Cougars, Juniors Meredith Rich and Kiera Nichols were leading the way in scoring. Rich had 10 points, while Nichols had eight.

“Just continue and don’t let up in the third quarter,” Grubbs said. “Historically, at times we’ve let up coming into the third quarter and we’ve let up some points and they have gone on a run and we’ve said if we get out there on a run, it’s our game and it’s our game to play.”

Nichols was fouled less than a minute into the third quarter, where she made 1 of 2 free throws, cutting the Spartans lead to 13 points. Riley came down court and launched a shot from 3-point range to put the Spartans right back in the driver’s seat, giving them a 16-point lead.

The Spartans took a 19-point lead into the final quarter. Nobody scored until the 6-minute mark of the quarter was approaching when the Cougars got a bucket. Petersen called a timeout and had a quick word with his team.

Ultimately, the Spartans cruised to victory, winning in dominant fashion. Petersen credited the girls for the win.

“I thought our defense from start to finish was pretty much outstanding,” he said. “For our girls to play the way they did, physical 50/50 balls, the girls were getting after it and diving on the floor for those, that says quite a bit about our girls tonight.”

The Spartans will play their next game at 6 p.m. at home Monday, welcoming the 2-11 West Harrison Hawkeyes to town. The Hawkeyes are led by Junior Maclayn Houston with 312 points, 143 rebounds and 9 assists.

“We’ve got to get healthy,” Petersen added. “Jaelynn [Petersen] didn’t feel good today whatsoever. Riley, hurt her hip getting stretched today, so we’ve got to get healthy. We have three games next week, so it’ll be tough."