Keokuk County basketball teams picked up big conference wins over the past week, including the Keota Eagles extending their undefeated boys’ basketball season by beating Iowa Valley last night 76-53. Keota took a 16-8 lead in the first quarter and would be up by 11 by halftime. The sixth-ranked team in Class 1A exploded for 27 points in the third period to pull away, raising their record to 18-0.
The Eagle girls came up just short against Iowa Valley, falling behind 15-9 in the first frame before pulling to within four points by the half. Keota cut the deficit down to a single point heading into the fourth quarter, but the Tigers would ultimately hold on for a 39-36 victory that drops the Eagles to 4-9 in the South Iowa Cedar League and 5-12 overall.
Keota was coming off a pair of victories Tuesday over Belle Plaine. The Eagle boys used a 24-11 run in the second quarter to stretch their lead to 46-26 at halftime and would go on to win 85-63. Sawyer Stout paced Keota by scoring 26 points, while fellow senior Cole Kindred had a double-double with 13 points and 11 assists. Evan Vittetoe finished with 14 points and six rebounds, while junior Billie Kindred added 12 points, seven boards, four dimes and three steals.
The Eagle girls defeated Belle Plaine 47-42 Tuesday, rallying from a 17-9 deficit in the opening period to get within three points by halftime. A 15-8 run would give Keota the lead for good heading into the final quarter.
The Sigourney Savages also got a pair of basketball victories Tuesday in the South Iowa Cedar League by defeating Iowa Valley. The Sigourney boys jumped out to a 14-4 lead after a quarter of play, but it was the 22-5 run to start the second half that put the Savages in control on their way to a 66-30 victory that helps them improve to 7-5 in conference action and 10-5 overall.
Sigourney beat Iowa Valley 49-34 in girls’ basketball behind 15 points, four rebounds and three assists from senior point guard Carly Goodwin. Junior Josephine Moore added nine points, 10 rebounds and four steals to help the Savages improve to 6-4 in the SICL.
This came on the heels of a 49-41 win for Sigourney against Wilton. After an early two-point lead Monday, the Savages finished the first half on a 10-5 run to go up 27-20. Sigourney stretched the advantage to double digits going into the final quarter before holding on down the stretch.
Goodwin came up with 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Moore had 10 points and 11 boards to help the Savages on their way to raising their overall record to 12-4. While Sigourney will next face Colfax-Mingo tonight, Keota will return to the basketball court tomorrow against Cardinal.