Sports

CEDAR FALLS– The Liberty High varsity boys’ basketball team dipped to 5-3 after a 63-51 loss to the Cedar Falls Tigers Tuesday, Jan. 14, in Cedar Falls. The Lightning trailed the Tigers, 14-11, at the end of the first quarter and were down, 32-18, at halftime. The Bolts fought back in the second half with a 13-point effort in the third period but still trailed Cedar Falls, 45-31, going into the fourth. Liberty cut the gap to six points with three minutes remaining and outscored the Tigers 21-18 in the final period, but, as Head Coach Stu Ordman said, “Too many turnovers for Bolts.”

INDEPENDENCE– The Clear Creek Amana (CCA) wrestlers traveled to Independence on Thursday, Jan. 16, for a quad meet with the host Mustangs, Waterloo East, and Beckman Catholic, from Dyersville, and ended the night 1-2.
The Creek Boys knocked off the Trojans of Waterloo East, 54-24, in a 10-forfeit match. Jayden Massey picked up a win at 120 pounds by pinning East’s Ryan Strong in 1:39.

SOLON– It was good to get a win.
After dropping the previous two games by a combined four points, Solon’s varsity boys’ basketball team blew out the Maquoketa Cardinals for a 68-39 home victory Jan. 16.
Despite playing in the Solon Middle School, the Spartans tore the game open in the third quarter, turning a 10-point halftime margin into a 22-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
“I loved how our guys responded to getting challenged,” noted Head Coach Matt Lesan.
This time, Solon took a 19-11 first-quarter lead and didn’t look back.

MANCHESTER– The Lady Spartans squeaked out a four-point road victory, 46-42, over the West Delaware Hawks for their first travel triumph of 2020 on Monday, Jan. 13, in Manchester.
The varsity girls’ basketball matchup was postponed from Friday, Jan. 10.
It was a dead heat for both teams at the end of the first quarter, knotted at 11-all. The Hawks put up another 11 points to Solon’s four in the second quarter for a 22-15 lead at the half.
Solon bested West Delaware, 14-10, in the third quarter, cutting the Hawks’ lead to 32-29 to start the final period.

MOUNT VERNON– It was another pretty close game.
After building an eight-point lead in the first half, Mount Vernon moved to 8-0 on the season by holding off Solon, 76-64, Jan. 7 in Mount Vernon.
The loss dropped Solon to 2-6.
The Spartans trailed by only a point, 18-17, at the end of the first period, but the Mustangs padded the margin in the second period and held a 37-29 advantage at the half.
Solon could keep pace in the third quarter, but couldn’t trim the lead.
Mount Vernon junior Keaton Kutcher carried the load for Mount Vernon, scoring 32 points and grabbing five steals.