Sports

CLEAR LAKE — A fourth quarter rally from nine points down came up a couple of possessions shy for Spencer in a 58-55 loss to Clear Lake in a Class 3A district semifinal battle Thursday. “The effort was great, to be sure,” Spencer coach Kory Petzenhauser said. “We could not ask any more of our guys. We set the tone in the first half and stretched the lead to seven points. But they switched defenses on us in the second half and we struggled a bit.”...

The Spencer Family YMCA Tigersharks swim team is preparing for the multiple state meets. The Great Iowa Swim League State Meet will be in Perry on Saturday. Marshalltown will host a swim meet March 6-7. Sandy Holck is the Tigersharks coach. --- Eight-and-under qualifiers for the Tigersharks are, front row: Emily Hass, Miles Heck, Madax Roberts, Weston Bailey, Louie Schmidt, Harper Fees, Karson Koenecke, Nolan Techen, Wyatt Wood and Ameila Gloyd. ...

MILFORD — Playing in front of a packed crowd, Spirit Lake’s boys basketball team stopped the upset hopes of Sioux Central Tuesday.The Indians won 65-52 to earn the Class 2A District 2 championship at Okoboji High School. “I was proud of our guys for the effort that they showed against a very deep and talented Spirit Lake team,” Sioux Central coach Stephen Tjaden said. ...

WATERLOO — The Lakes Community College women’s volleyball team lost 3-0 to Hawkeye Community College Wednesday. Set scores were 25-12, 25-11, 25-18. The Lakers, 1-9, host Indian Hills at 1 p.m. Sunday in Estherville. --- MARION, Ill. — The Iowa Lakes Community College baseball season is underway. ...

Spencer girls who will compete at the AAU meet in Des Moines Sunday at Wells Fargo Arena are, middle school, front row: Ellie Perez, Shaylee Sutherland, Olivia Schuster, Breanna Johnson. High school, back row: Lelia Kollasch, Morgan Griffin, Paris Dean, Olivia Huckfelt, Kaylee Nachtigal, Emma Strohman and Krystol Luna Ruiz. Dave Storm is the coach...

Area wrestling coaches support a state Legislature bill encouraging the Iowa High School Athletic Union to sanction girls wrestling as a recently announced bill in the sport. State Senator Chris Cournoyer, of Le Claire, introduced a bill this week. Spencer head wrestling coach Adam Gress and Sioux Central head wrestling coach Ben Edmundson both support the official recognition effort of girls wrestling...

A collective “phew” could almost be heard from the Spencer field house Monday. That is after the score read 61-58 “home” on the scoreboard. Spencer’s Riley DeWitt swished a 3-point buzzer beater, from an assist by Landon Ellis, as the Tigers prevailed over gutsy Estherville Lincoln Central. DeWitt scored five points against the Midgets, but four helped decide the game. The trey was his ninth this season...

Ready to get back on the trails once the cold snap lifts for some fresh air and excellent winter hiking in Iowa State Parks? Our park staff offers these tips to help you make the most of your snowy trek: “I always stress the importance of previsit scouting and research,” said Andy Bartlett, park manager at Ledges State Park near Ames and Boone...

Sticking a lively minnow in front of fish hasn’t really changed a whole lot over time. With all the technology, sonar, map chips and other tools to help us catch fish … there are times each winter when we have to go back to the basics. While the mantra lately has been a power fishing approach where we aggressively jig lures to break down water fast and try to contact the most aggressive fish, the opposite of that approach is sitting on key locations with a lot more of a patient and methodical approach with dead sticks. ...

For one reason or another, I’ve been unable to get on the ice for a couple of weeks. I’m guessing that warmer weather will provide the opportunity and encouragement to go ice fishing a few more times, but for now I’m doing a lot of remembering. Mostly I’m remembering past fishing trips. For 40-plus years, I’ve had the privilege of working in the fishing industry...

It’s that time of year for those two hated words: tax time! For sure, it’s not a fun time. It’s simply a duty that needs to be completed. On a positive note, on the Iowa State Tax form, there is a spot in Section 9: Tax Credits and Check-off Contributions, where we can choose to donate a specific dollar amount to the Chickadee Checkoff. ...