GIRLS = Jeff West 47, Hiawatha 36

In a game that featured two teams struggling to take care of the basketball, Jeff West closed the first half on an 8-0 run and never gave up the lead after a 15-8 third quarter in route to the road win. In the teams first matchup of this season, both teams shot the ball well early and Hiawatha took their first lead 15-11 on a four-point-play by Clara Lindstrom.

The Hawks led 18-13 after one period and went ahead 21-15 early in the second stanza before foul trouble turned the game around. Three leading scorers and top two ball handlers all went to the bench with two fouls and Jeff West took advantage creating some turnovers and scoring eight straight points to grab a 23-21 advantage at halftime.  

Heather Kahler took over in the third scoring 10 of her game high 16 points and the Tigers made five of six free throws down the stretch to secure the win.  Neva Roenne scored all eight of her points in the first half and Mellany Roenne added seven points to help Jeff West overcome 18 turnovers and improve to 7-6 on the season and 4-3 in the Big 7 League.  

Sarah Madsen had a great start to the game and set the tone with nine first quarter points for Hiawatha but finished with just 11 while Bailey Pierce added eight, but joined Madsen and also Lindstrom on the bench for the last several minutes of the first half when Jeff West took control and the lead for good. The Hawks had 20 turnovers and drop to 5-6 overall and 1-5 in League play.  

BOYS = Jeff West 57, Hiawatha 47

For all intensive purposes, this game was decided in the first four minutes as Jeff West jumped to a 17-0 lead. Hiawatha did not shoot the ball well, especially from the perimeter and had their six game winning streak snapped, which had included a 64-51 victory against the Tigers two weeks ago in the opening round of the McLouth Tourney. 

Jeff West made eight buckets behind the three-point-line, including one in each quarter for Quinn Neuenswander who finished with a team high 16 points. Garrett Athon added 12 points and Brayden Cruz chipped in nine while Bryce Clements had nine before a charge followed by a double-technical foul that ended his night late in the third quarter. Tyler Brockoff of Hiawatha also received a technical during the verbal exchange, but was able to score 11 points in the fourth frame before fouling out.  A total of six players fouled out of the game, three for each team.   

Jeff West led 20-7 after one quarter and was ahead 27-15 at halftime while also maintaining a double-digit lead throughout the third period. The Tigers biggest lead of the night was 49-28 with 4:15 remaining in the contest, but as it looked like they would coast to the win, Brockoff took over on the inside and Sage Meyer (who had missed his first 12 shots of the night) scored seven straight points during a 17-2 run in a two minute stretch. Hiawatha had two possessions trailing only 51-45 with just under a couple minutes remaining, but could not get any closer as Jeff West hit eight free throws late to seal the win. 

Brockoff scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half and was 8-8 at the line to lead the Hawks but no one else had more than seven points. Hiawatha fell to 8-4 overall and 2-4 in the Big 7.  Jeff West improved to 8-5 on the season and 4-3 in league action. 

These two teams will play again in Meriden on February 21st.  Both teams are back in action tonight as Hiawatha plays at Nemaha Central and Jeff West hits the road again to Perry Lecompton. 

Citizens State Bank and Trust Company of Hiawatha "Players to Bank On"
Heather Kahler and Quinn Neuenswander of Jeff West