JEFF B | Iowa Prep Illustrated / Iowa Garndstand Sports

POCAHONTAS — After getting an season opening win at home a week earlier, RIdge View girls basketball team found the competition to be much more difficult in Class 2A No. 12 ranked Pocahontas on Tuesday.

The Raptors were down double-digits at the ned of the first quarter (16-6) and had a 24-point deficit (33-9) at halftime. The Raptors outscored Pocahontas Area 13-12 in the third quarter, and finished the second half offensively even with Pocahontas 27-27. The final was still a 60-36 setback for Ridge View.

“To get better, we want to play teams like this, but we need to find a way to compete better for the full four quarters. They certainly exposed some things we need to clean up. Digging a hole early with turnovers and not being able to make shots in the first half even when we did have opportunities really hurt us.”
– Brian Bode, Ridge View head girls basketball coach

Ridge View (1-1) has dropped all three meetings they’ve faced Pocahontas Area since 2023.

It was a rough night for the most part in putting the ball through the basket. The Raptors finished the game at 28.9 percent overall (11-of-38), which included 4-of-16 from 3-point range. Ridge View may be forced to hit the panic button early with its free throw shooting. They finished the game with Pocahontas Area going 10-of-24 for 41.7 percent.

“The second half, we showed that we’re capable of playing better. Overall, we must improve our defensive effort and execution. That starts with more communication and carries into our defensive fundamentals and positioning. You can’t give a team 21 offensive rebounds and expect to stay in it.  These are the kinds of games that will hopefully help us learn and grow early in the season.”
– Brian Bode, Ridge View girls basketball coach

On the season, Ridge View is 17-of-43 for 39.5 percent at the charity stripe in its opening two games of the season.

Pocahontas Area shot 42.4 percent (25-of-59) from the floor overall, and also struggled with its foul shooting going 9-of 21 for 42.9 percent.

The Indians (1-0) finished with Khloe Mefferd posting a double-double. Mefferd posted game-high’s with 17 points and 17 rebounds. Two other Pocahontas Area players Danica Dreith and Alayna Kakacek each chipped in with 12 points.

Ridge View found itself on the short end of a 40-32 night on the board. Leading the Raptors was Chloe Murphy and Brynlee Grieme each with six.

Leading Ridge View in points was Shea Rapp and Jayna Aschinger each with eight points.

“We did have a number of girls that got into the scoring column so that’s a positive, but would certainly like to see those numbers increase as well.”
– Brian Bode, Ridge View girls basketball coach

Up Next

Ridge View (1-1) faced non-conference opponent Alta-Aurelia (0-1) on Thursday, before traveling to face Lawton-Bronson on Friday in Western Valley Conference action.

Teams	1	2	3	4	Final
Ridge View	6	3 (9)	13 (22)	14	36
Pocahontas Area	16	17 (33)	12 (45)	15	60

Ridge View Record: 1-1 | Pocahontas Record: 1-0
* Rankings are current ranking by Iowa Grandstand Sports

Pocahontas Area Leading Scorer (s): Khloe Mefferd 17, Danika Dreith 12, Alayna Kakacek 12.

Pocahontas Area Leading Rebounder (s): Mefferd 17.

Largest Lead: NA
Rebound Margin: Pocahontas Area +8 (40-32)

Ridge View Scoring: Zoey Aschinger 6, Alyssa Biede 5, Jayna Aschinger 8, Chloe Murphy 2, Shea Rapp 8, Brynlee Grieme 0, Reese Hawthorne 4, Cora Tesch 3.
Ridge View Statistics
Field Goals Overall: 11-38 (28.9)
3-Pt. Field Goals: 4-16 (25.0)
Free Throws: 10-24 (41.7)
Assists (8): Rapp 3, J. Aschinger 2, Z. Murphy 1, Tesch 1, Grieme 1.
Steals (5): J. Aschinger 2, Biede 1, Murphy 1, Rapp 1.
Rebounds (32): Murphy 6, Grieme 6, Biede 5, Rapp 3, J. Aschinger 3, Z. Aschinger 3, Tesch 2, Hawthorne 1.
Blocked Shots (2): Rapp 1, Hawthorne 1.

Cherokee vs. Emmetsburg

EMMETSBURG — A premoere early season matchup took place Tuesday inside Emmetsburg High School Gym between a pair of Iowa Prep Illustrated / Iowa Grandstand Sports ranked teams — Class 3A fourth-ranked Cherokee, and the Class 2A tenth-ranked E’Hawks.

The game was every bit as exciting as expected, with Cherokee hanging on for the 60-55 victory.

The first quarter ended with Emmetsburg leading 14-11. With four minutes remaining in the first half, Emmetsburg had its biggest lead of 23-19, only to be outscored 12-4 to close out the first half. Cherokee turned a 31-27 halftime lead into a 13 point (48-35) lead in the third quarter.

Rachel Schaney of Emmetsburg knocked down the short range shot with under two minutes to play to cut Cherokee’s lead to one-point at 56-55. Schaney finished posting a game high 32 points and completed the double-double with a team-best 10 rebounds for the E’Hawks.

Dylan Flene added eight points, eight rebounds, five assists, a steal and one blocked shot for Emmetsburg in a suppporting role.

“A&D” as in Cherokee juniors’ Addy Wolfswinkel and Deidra Doeden did the majority of the damage offensively. Both players turned in excellent shooting nights for the Braves. Wolfswinkel shot 8-of-13 (61.5%) overall, including 3-of-6 (50%) from beyond the 3-point arch. Wolfswinkel finished with a game-high 24 points.

Doeden was even greater the marksmen finishing 10-of-13 (76.9%) from the floor overall. She got red-hot in the second half when Cherokee needede her the most before fouling out with 20 points — 16 points in the second half. Doeden added a game-high 16 rebounds for back-to-back double-doubles to begin the season.

Senior Kadyn Volkert finished as the third Braves player in double figures offensively with 10 points.

The Braves have won 14 straight head-to-head meetings against the E’Hawks. The last Emmetsburg win in the series came back on Feb. 7, 2014, in Cherokee, by the score of 54-47.

Up Next

Cherokee (2-0) returns to action on Monday, Dec. 8, traveling to Holstein to face Ridge View in a non-conference game. The Braves are looking to start the regular season 3-0 for the fourth straight season.

Teams	1	2	3	4	Final
Cherokee	11	20 (39)	17 (48)	12	60
Emmetsburg	14	13 (27)	8 (35)	20	55

#4 (3A) Cherokee Record: 2-0 | #10 (2A) Emmetsburg Record: 1-1
* Rankings are current ranking by Iowa Prep Illustrated / Iowa Grandstand Sports

Emmetsburg Leading Scorer (s): Rachel Schany 32.

Emmetsburg Leading Rebounder (s): Schany 10, Dylan Flene 8.

Largest Lead: Cherokee +13 (50-32), 6:00 minutes left third quarter
Rebound Margin: Emmetsburg + 2 (30-28)

Cherokee Scoring: Addy Wolfswinkel 24, Jilliam Paulsrud 0, Deidra Doeden 20, Kadyn Volkert 10, Macy Gravenish 0, Nora Hare 2, Bryn Lewis 0, Anna Nixon 4 .
Cherokee Statistics
Field Goals Overall: 23-54 (42.5)
3-Pt. Field Goals: 6-23 (26.1)
Free Throws: 8-13 (61.5)
Assists (15): Wolfswinkel 4, Nixon 3, Doeden 3, Volkert 2, Paulsrud 1, Hare 1, Gravenish 1.
Steals (5): Wolfswinkel 2, Volkert 1, Paulsrud 1, Nixon 1.
Rebounds (28): Doeden 16, Volkert 5, Wolfswinkel 5, Paulsrud 3, Nixon 1.
Blocked Shots (2): Doeden 1, Volkert 1.

MMCRU vs. Harris-Lake Park

LAKE PARK — Shooting inside was as cold as temperatures outdoor on Tuesday as MMCRU and Harris-Lake Park reuined acquanitances in War Eagle Conference girls basketball action.

Harris-Lake Park came away with a 50-34 win over the guest Royals, despite shooting only 23 percent (14-of-61) from the floor overall. The Wolves come into the game ranked No. 13 in Class 1A by Iowa Prep Illustrated / Iowa Grandstand Sports.

Nine players saw action for Harris-Lake Park with seven finding their way into the scoring column. Junior Cora Niemeier had a game-high 11 points, and junmior Peton Reverts finished with 10 points. Lilli Gunderson added eight points and seven rebounds. Gracie Gunderson had six points, five rebounds, four assists, and six steals for ther WOlves who improve their record to 1-1 on the season.

Harris-Lake Park had the big first quarter in which their built a 17-5 lead and led 29-15 at halftime. At the conclusion of the third, Harris-Lake Park had expanded the lead to 48-19.

MMCRU (0-2) did finish strong offensively outscoring the host Wolves over the final eight minutes 13-2.

Chloe Alesch, Tia Tentibger, and Hailey Staab each had six points for MMCRU in the loss.

ADMINISTRATORS NOTE: MMCRU did not report or post any information on the game at time of this release.

Up Next

MMCRU will host winless Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn (0-3) on Friday in Marcus.

Teams	1	2	3	4	Final
MMCRU	5	10 (15)	6 (21)	13	34
H-LP	17	12 (29)	19 (48)	2	50

MMCRU Record: 0-2 | #13 (1A) Harris-Lake Park Record: 2-1
* Rankings are current ranking by Iowa Prep Illustrated / Iowa Grandstand Sports

MMCRU Leading Scorer (s): Chloe Alesch 6, Hailey Staab 6, Tia Tentinger 6.

Largest Lead: NA
Rebound Margin: NA

Harris-Lake Park Leading Scorers (s): Cora Niemeier 11, Peyton Reverts 10.

Harris-Lake Park Rebounds Leader (s): Lilli Gunderson 7, Gracie Gunderson 5.