Spirit Lake, Iowa — Western traveled to Spirit Lake Tuesday night and it was the Indians who got the sweep with a 50-43 win in the girls contest and finished the night with a 68-60 decision in the boys game.
Spirit Lake led at all the breaks in the girls game up 14-10 at the end of the first quarter and 26-25 at halftime. The lead was up to 40-34 at the end of three as the Indians won by seven, 50-43.
Western’s Sienna Moss led all scorers with 15 points. Team mate Madison Vis hit for 12. Spirit Lake had two players in double figures with Brooke Smith netting 14 and Taylor Schneider hitting for 10.
With the win Spirit Lake finishes the regular season at 6-13 on the year and 4-6 in the Lakes. Western is 5-17 on the regular season and 2-8 in the conference. Tournaments are next for both teams with Western in Class 2A hosting West Sioux in a Saturday game. Spirit Lake will be at Sioux Center Saturday in a 3A quarterfinal.
In the boys game that followed the Indians earned a split on the regular season series with a 68-60 win. The Wolfpack had claimed the victory earlier this year during the first meeting in Hull. Spirit Lake led 16-13 at the end of the first quarter with the Wolfpack getting within 32-30 at halftime.
An 11-2 run to start the second half would set the Indians up for the win as they led by 7 at the end of three 47-40. The lead would have been 10 if not for a buzzer beating trey from Eli Van Essen. Western would get within two late in the game but a key bucket and 7 of 8 free throw shooting at the end would seal the win for Spirit Lake at 68-60.
Western got a game high 21 from Eli Van Essen while Ty Van Essen put up 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter. Spirit Lake was led by Creighton Morisch with 18 points followed by Vance Katzfey with 16.
With the win Western is 15-4 and finishes 7-2 as the Lakes Conference Champs. They close out the regular season with a home game Thursday against Sioux Falls Christian. Spirit Lake ends the regular season at 15-5 on the year with a 6-3 conference mark. The Indians are off until the District Tournament they host the winner of Okoboji and Emmetsburg on Thursday the 18th in a District semifinal.
