DES MOINES (Feb. 28) -- For three and a half quarters on Wednesday, Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton and AGWSR waged a back-and-forth battle in search of consistency. The lead changed hands eight times and there were seven ties. Momentum was fleeting. But with the outcome hanging in the balance at Wells Fargo Arena, Spartan seniors Sophia Peppers and Kealey Nelson did what they always seem to do at crunch time.

 COUNCIL BLUFFS (Feb. 26) -- From an effort and execution standpoint, the Harlan Community boys basketball team graded out close to an ‘A’ in Monday’s Class 3A, Substate 8 final vs. Glenwood. But on this night - against this opponent - an A+ was required to win. In an entertaining, up-tempo battle between senior-laden rivals, the Rams simply had an answer for everything the Cyclones threw at them inside the Abraham Lincoln Fieldhouse.

 DENISON (Feb. 26) -- Only three IKM-Manning players were able to break into the scoring column Monday night as the Wolves lost a low-scoring Class 1A, Substate 8 final vs. third-ranked Remsen St. Mary’s, 39-23, at Denison. IKM-Manning trailed just 6-2 after the first quarter and 16-10 at halftime, but could never get going on the offensive end against the unbeaten Hawks (25-0), who advanced to the Boys State Basketball Tournament as the No.

 DES MOINES (Feb. 28) -- At least on paper, Wednesday’s Class 1A girls state basketball quarterfinal between Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton and AGWSR looks like a great 4 vs. 5-seed matchup. The 7th-ranked Spartans (23-1) and No. 8 Cougars (21-2) will tip things off at 3:15 p.m. inside Wells Fargo Arena as the second of four 1A first round games. The winner will return to Des Moines Friday at 1:30 for a semifinal against either No.

 HARLAN (Feb.

 CARROLL (Feb. 23) -- The IKM-Manning boys basketball team moved within one win of the state tournament on Friday night, defeating Tri-Center 51-42 in a Class 1A, District 15 final played at Kuemper Catholic. The game was postponed 24 hours due to inclement weather and the Wolves’ Substate 8 final vs. third-ranked Remsen St.

 COUNCIL BLUFFS (Feb. 20) -- The Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton boys got just the start they wanted in Tuesday’s district battle at St.

 WATERLOO (Feb. 19) -- Bowling just below his season average, Harlan Community sophomore Darren Stein placed 33rd out of 53 participants in the Class 1A Boys State Bowling Tournament held February 19 at Waterloo’s Cadillac Lanes. Competing as an individual qualifier, Stein rolled games of 155 and 203 for a total of 358, finishing one pin behind Shenandoah’s top two finishers, Jordan Ross and Aaron Whitslar.

 AVOCA (Feb. 19) -- The final chapter has yet to be written in the basketball storybook of Sophia Peppers and Kealey Nelson, but the plot thus far has certainly been well worth the read. Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton’s senior duo combined for 38 points and 19 rebounds Monday night, clinching a fourth consecutive trip to the Girls State Basketball Tournament as the seventh-ranked Spartans defeated No.

 MAPLETON (Feb.

 HARLAN (Feb.

 DES MOINES (Feb.

 DES MOINES (Feb.

 COUNCIL BLUFFS (Feb. 15) – Tied at 49 with Fremont-Mills heading into the fourth quarter, the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton Spartans hit a big three to start the fourth and then sealed a 64-57 win at the free throw line in boys district basketball action in Council Bluffs Thursday, Feb.

 MANNING (Feb. 15) -- The IKM-Manning boys basketball team survived the dreaded third matchup with a conference rival Thursday night, outlasting Audubon 50-48 in a Class 1A district quarterfinal game in Manning. Alex Lingle led the Wolves with 17 points while Jared Johnson added 10 points, seven assists and four steals.