UNDERWOOD - With 1.2 seconds remaining in regulation trailing by one to the Treynor Cardinals, the Exira-EHK Spartans were hoping for a last second shot to punch their ticket to the state tournament. The Spartans came up empty when Sophomore Taryn Petersen missed a shot attempt, losing 45-44 ending their season.

The ACGC Chargers came out of the gate and immediately set the tone In Tuesday’s 1A – 8 game against the IKM-Manning Wolves, starting with a 22-1 run and ending with a 83-56 win to end the Wolves’ season. 

Monday marked the end of the season and the end of an era for the Harlan Community High School boys basketball team. The Cyclones took a first round exit in Regional play against the Glenwood Rams, losing a close battle 57-56. It was the final game in the long and storied career of Cyclone Head Coach Mitch Osborn, who recently announced his retirement.

In his final appearance for the Harlan Community Cyclones, Senior Jesse Jens finished in eighth place at the state meet at Wells Fargo Arena, capping off an extraordinary wrestling career.

With less than three minutes to go in the fourth quarter of Friday’s Class 2A - Region 7 Second Round Game against the MVAOCOU Rams, Exira-EHK Sophomore Taryn Petersen stepped up to the free line with her team trailing by one, making both free throws to give the Spartans their first lead of the game, en route to a 49-48 victory.

The HCHS Cyclones rolled into Carroll Thursday night closing out their regular season with a 62-56 win for their ninth win of the season.
“We have a little bit of momentum going right now,” said Cyclone Head Coach Mitch Osborn. “We’re peaking at the right time. Obviously we would’ve loved to start that a few weeks earlier. We’re playing good basketball right now.”

HCHS Senior Addison Obrecht has signed a Letter of Intent to wrestle at Morningside University.
“I’ve had a lot of emotions over these last few months, but it all is kind of coming to a head right now,” Obrecht said. “It’s kind of cool to see my progress throughout this year and for me only wrestling under a year, this is a big moment and it means more to me than anyone will ever know.”

Trailing by just five points heading into the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s Class 3A – Region 5 second round game, the HCHS Cyclones girls basketball team was hoping for one more strong quarter to overtake the Atlantic Trojans, but couldn’t falling 52-40, and ending their season.

Leading by 13 at halftime in the Class 2A – Region 7 First Round Regional Game, the Exira-EHK Spartans kept their foot on the gas pedal opening the third quarter on a 12-0 run leading themselves to a 61-33 victory over the Underwood Eagles, punching their ticket to the second round.

In the first quarter of Tuesday’s 1A – 8 Regional game, Senior Charger Mason Wahl made the first three baskets all on layups opening the game on a 6-0 run, helping lead his team to a 78-45 win ending the Spartans season.

The last time the HCHS Cyclones played the Creston Panthers, with 1.7 seconds left, Senior Panther Brayden School made a layup handing the Cyclones a 48-46 loss. The Cyclones however got back in the win column with a close victory of their own, 60-58.

It didn’t take long for the HCHS Cyclones girls basketball team to put away the Red Oak Tigers in Saturday’s Class 3A - Region 5 Game opening the game on a 20-8 run, cruising to a 72-25 win.

Cyclone grapplers Brody McKinley, Brody Bendorf, Jesse Jens, and Chayton Snethen have punched their ticket to the state wrestling meet in Des Moines at Wells Fargo Arena after a strong showing at the district meet at Glenwood High School.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” said Cyclone Head Coach Adam Bendorf. “All four did what they needed to do on Saturday and got it done.”

After a slow start in the first quarter of Friday’s 1A - 8 Regional Game, the Exira-EHK Spartans offense got going in the second quarter outscoring the West Harrison Hawkeyes 22-8 en route to a 71-47 victory.
“It feels good always to start off with a win in postseason,” said Junior Austin Rasmussen. “We’re 1-0 now. We’ll see what we can do. It’s going to be a tough battle against ACGC, but we’ve just got to come to play.”

Junior Viking Collin Harder set the tone coming away with 15 points during Thursday’s 41-28 home win against the Denison Monarchs closing out their regular season with two consecutive victories, and winning seven of their final eight games.