War Eagle losing streak continues

After breaking even through four games that count toward the War Eagle Conference girls' standings, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn has now lost three straight.

MMCRU brought a No. 5 ranking in Class 1A to Hartley on Jan. 18 and they lived up to it. The Royals ran out to a big lead and went on to defeat H-M-S, 73-25.

Thirty-two turnovers hampered the Hawks, who were limited to 34 shots from the field.

Scoring for H-M-S included eight points by Lydia Harders and Jasmine Lux, five points by Taya Mason and two points each by Olivia Grooters and Darby Mastbergen.

The Royals rolled to a 30-9 lead and extended it to 46-15 at half time. Their advantage at the end of the third quarter was 65-21.

Harders and Lux also led H-M-S with five rebounds while Mastbergen had three. Lux finished with three steals.

All but three points for MMCRU (10-1) came from their starters: Ellie Hilbrands - 20, Emily Dreckman - 17, Kora Alesch – 13, and Jaylen Bork and Taylor Harpenau - 10.

• vs. Gehlen Catholic

Shots would not fall for H-M-S during a 56-35 conference loss to Gehlen Catholic on Jan. 22 at LeMars.

The Hawks only converted on 12-of-42 attempts from the floor while the Jays made 21-of-49. Taya Mason scored 10 points, Lydia Harders scored six, Elise Haack scored five, and Olivia Grooters and Jasmine Lux each scored four.

Gehlen Catholic led 13-9 after the first quarter and 29-18 at the half. They continued to pull away in the third quarter to build a 47-24 advantage.

Harders and Lux each pulled down six rebounds; Mason had three rebounds and two steals; Emily Otto also had three rebounds; and Grooters added two.

Scoring leaders for Gehlen Catholic (9-7) were Rachel Langel with 13 points and Lauren Heying and Miyah Whitehead with 12 each.

The Hawks (4-10, 2-5) begin a stretch of four road games on Jan. 28 at Boyden-Hull, followed by games at Unity Christian on Jan. 29 and at MMCRU on Feb. 2.