Coverage season began for the KCII Area Game of the Week Tuesday night with a rivalry matchup in the South Iowa Cedar League, as the Sigourney Savages hosted Keota in a conference doubleheader.
The girls hit the floor in game one, with Keota hoping to end an 18-game losing streak to Sigourney. The Savages would have none of that, closing out the first quarter on a 10-0 run. Behind 16 combined first-half points from Carly Goodwin and Josephine Moore, Sigourney entered the third quarter leading 26-7. The Savages dominated the paint and controlled the boards on both ends, holding Keota to six second-half points on their way to a 47-13 victory. Goodwin would finish with a game-high 13. Moore, the only other double-digit scorer reached her 10 point total with a pair of second-half free throws. Additional production on offense came from Erin Dawson, Ava Fisch, Amiya Smallwood, and Ava Fineran. A tough night offensively for the Eagles saw six points from Kennedy Jackson, five from Kimberly Clarahan, and a pair from Grace Conger. Keota dropped it’s fourth game of the young season, while Sigourney improved to 3-0. The Savages host Bell Plaine next Tuesday, and the Eagles are back in action Friday against Iowa Valley.
In the nightcap, it was the Keota boys looking to spoil the Savage home opener and get the split. A team that isn’t afraid to shoot from beyond the arc did just that, hitting five three-pointers in the opening quarter. The Eagles followed up the 25-point frame with 28 in the second quarter, heading to the break leading 53-27. Tough back-court pressure and quick transitions prevented any comeback hopes for the Savages, as Keota rolled to an 85-48 win. Cole Kindred found much his success inside the three-point line, but exploded for 16 first-half points and ultimately led all scorers with 24. Four different Eagles hit double figures Tuesday night, as Sawyer Stout finished with 15, Evan Vittetoe scored 10 of his 14 in the second half, and Billie Kindred had 10. Despite being shut down in the fourth quarter, Isaac Bruns had a team-high 14 for Sigourney. Early foul trouble limited Solon Yates, who still managed nine, and John Berg matched with nine of his own. Sigourney hopes to bounce back on Friday at Tri-County, while Keota tries to improve to 3-0 on Thursday against Lone Tree.
The KCII Area Game of the Week returns with another double-dip this Friday as Winfield-Mt. Union hosts Pekin. Listen to live coverage of Wolves basketball beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the KCII3 stream available at KCIIradio.com.