It was a Big 7 League rematch on Friday night in Hoyt and offense was hard to come by for all four teams involved.  However, the Hiawatha girls avenged an early season home loss against the Lady Panthers and the Royal Valley boys didn't need two overtimes to defeat the Hawks for the second time this season.  The Hiawatha girls have now won 5 of their last 6 while Royal Valley boys stretched their win streak to five in a row.  

GIRLS = Hiawatha 34, Royal Valley 21
Emily Gartner scored the first seven points of the game for Hiawatha and the Lady Redhawks led 7-6 after one quarter.  Yet, Royal Valley went on a 9-1 run in the second quarter and led 15-13 at halftime.  The Lady Panthers, however, did not make a single field goal in the second half, managing only 6 of 12 free throws before falling to  6-7 on the season and 4-6 in Big 7 League play.  Kate Hanson had 10 points to lead the Panthers.  Freshman point-guard, Tamo Thomas did not play the second half for Royal Valley as Hiawatha went on a 13-3 run in the third quarter and held on for the win by making 6 of 9 free throws to start the fourth frame.  Gartner scored 14 points for Hiawatha, who overcame 18 turnovers and improved to 8-6 overall and 5-5 in league play with their 5th win in their last 6 games.    

BOYS = Royal Valley 32, Hiawatha 27
Royal Valley led 11-10 after one quarter, but then pitched a shutout in the second stanza to take an 18-10 lead at the intermission.  Hiawatha closed the gap to five entering the fourth quarter and got within 26-24 with six minutes to play before comitting three straight turnovers to let the game slip away.  Royal Valley missed 7 of 9 free throws in the fourth quarter and had 16 turnovers before holding on for the win.  Kwaki Spoonhunter and Winter Royalty King, Tristan Tessendorf, each had 7 points in the Panthers fifth consecutive win to improve to 6-4 in league play and 10-4 overall, matching their win total from the previous two years.  Greg Lock had 8 points for Hiawatha who is now 3-11 on the season and 1-9 in the Big 7.  The Redhawks suffered their 8th loss by 6 points or less this season.