Girls --- Axtell 36, Onaga 23

Boys --- Onaga 56, Axtell 53 (Overtime)

Girls

Axtell Eagles continued their second half of the season success as they earned their sixth win since the holiday break and eighth win of the year, taking down the Onaga Buffaloes 36-23 at home. Axtell started the game off with a 10-4 first quarter and stretched that lead out in the ballgame, leading 20-6 at the half.

Eagles continued to use a balanced scoring attack during their second half of the season as freshman, Kiersten Talbot lead Axtell on the night with 11 points as the only player with double figures in the game. Freshman, Megan Buessing chipped in six points while freshman, Courtney Heinen and sophomore, Ashley Buessing each added five points apiece.

For Onaga, they have struggled scoring in the last few contests and that continued against Axtell. Senior, Raegan Hermreck paced the way for the Buffaloes with eight points.

With the win Axtell improved to 8-9 on the season and 6-3 since the holiday break and now turn their attention to a tough game with Washington County on Tuesday when the Tigers come to Axtell. Onaga with the loss falls to 4-13 on the season having loss their last six and will look to get back in the win column on Tuesday when they play host to a tough, Valley Heights team.

Boys

Both the Onaga Buffaloes and Axtell Eagles have been in plenty of close games this season and been on both sides of the win column in each one of them, too. How appropriate that when they face each other in the season its a close game that would need an extra period to decide the victor.

Onaga came out blistering hot in the game but Axtell made a run in the first quarter to be down three after one, 16-13. Buffaloes then turned things up again and used a 12-6 second period to led 28-19 at the half. Axtell took the momentum out of halftime with a 11-4 third quarter to get within two of Onaga, 32-30. Both teams traded punches but Axtell threw the last punch with a big three-pointer to tie the game at 46-46 and push the game to overtime.

In overtime the blows continued to be traded but it was free throws down the stretch that cemented things for Onaga leading 56-53 with seconds left and Axtell hoisted a game tying three again but this time from the corner it rimmed in a out, to preserve the road win 56-53 in overtime.

Buffaloes only had five players score on the night, all five being the starters, but the scoring was balanced. Mitchell Kufahl lead the way with a new season-high for Onaga, registering 20 points while hitting 11-14 from the charity strip. Onaga was only 22-42 from the free throw line but Kufahl made clutch free throws down the stretch and half of the total Buffalo freebies made on the night. Fellow senior, Thomas Eisenbarth and sophomore, Wyatt Cordell also added double figures with 14 and 10 points each.

Axtell on the night was lead by junior, Payton Heinen who tallied 15 points while junior, Christian Buessing tallied 10 points and senior, Taylor Platt added nine points with clutch three-pointers late in the game and overtime.

With the win Onaga snapped their four game losing streak to improved to 10-7 on the season, now setting their sights on Valley Heights on Tuesday when the Buffaloes host the Mustangs. Axtell fell in another tight ball game this year, falling to 10-8 on the year and will look for their eleventh win of the season on Tuesday when they host Washington County.