The Keota Eagle girls basketball team used the season opening 4 Corners Shootout to put everyone on notice. The Eagles handled Highland 73-51 in the first contest Friday, then came back 24 hours later and finished the sweep, downing Lone Tree on their home floor 56-46. The Lady Lions had the better of things early, leading 17-13 after one, but Keota would come back in the second to take a 29-27 lead to break and methodically expand it from there, with a 45-37 advantage after three. Eagle head coach Jeff Sprouse joined the KCII Radio Coaches Corner to talk about his team’s start to the season. “It takes a team, some people are going to score more, some are going to rebound more, some are going to defend. It just takes a good group. I thought overall defensively we played really well. I thought Cameron (Haifley) got off to a fantastic start. She just doesn’t have any fear. Elyse Lyle probably played the best defense that we’ve had. Then you mix in seniors with Kennedy Jackson, playing with high confidence right now, taking it to the basket. Dakota Dodd hit two huge shots for us against Lone Tree. Karley Greiner, Emily Conger Jessalyn Aller, it’s a whole group.”

The Eagles shot 36% from the floor, holding the Lions to 25%. They won rebounds 37-31 and had 12 assists. Lone Tree won steals eight to six, blocks six to three and turnovers 16-12. Cameron Haifley, this week’s KCII Area Athlete of the Week put up an 18 point night to lead Keota, adding five assists. Karley Greiner scored nine. Finley Jacque led everyone with a game high 23 points for the Lions. Ava Christofferson added nine. Keota remains unbeaten at 2-0, Lone Tree dropped to 1-1 with the loss.

The second Saturday contest featured Highland taking care of the Iowa Valley Tigers 60-13. The Huskies sprinted out of the gate and never looked back, leading 31-3 after one quarter and using a 14-4 run in the second to go up 45-7 at half. The Huskies shut out the Tigers in the third quarter to lead 52-7 after three. Highland shot 36% from the floor and hit nine three pointers. They grabbed 47 rebounds, 25 on the offensive end, with 24 steals and 17 assists. Kamryn Fink went double double with 10 points and 12 rebounds to go with seven steals and six assists. Hailey Brun had 15 points, Katelyn Thomann 11 and Kenzie Ruess had 12 boards. The win moved Highland to 1-1 on the season.