Photo Courtesy of Keota Schools Social Media
The Keota Eagle boys and girls basketball teams are back on the floor tonight for a Homecoming doubleheader against the visiting HLV Warriors.
The Eagle boys are 10-4 on the year, 6-4 in the South Iowa Cedar League after a 79-48 win over Highland on Monday. This year, the Eagles score 61 points per game and give up 48 on 42% shooting, 30% from three and 52% at the line with 33 rebounds, 18 assists, 10 steals and 11 turnovers per game. Individually, Jackson Vittetoe leads with 15 points and five assists per game. Ayden Galindo has eight rebounds per night and Chase Haifley two steals per night. HLV is 3-10 this year and 1-9 in the SICL after a 94-29 loss at Lynnville-Sully Tuesday. This year the Warriors score 36 points and give up 59 per night on 30% shooting from the floor, 22% from deep and 54% at the line with 26 rebounds, eight steals, six assists and 20 turnovers per game. Individually, Tucker Donaldson averages 14 points, three steals and two assists per game. Aiden Van Waus is the leader with six boards per night. This week, Eagle boys head coach Dan Stout spoke with KCII Sports about keys to success. “One of our big keys is to get defensive rebounds and when we press, one of our goals is to either get a steal or a quick shot, then run the other way. When we’re doing that our defense really feeds our offense. Against HLV earlier this year, we got a nice win at their place. Our kids will always be excited for a Homecoming game and we talked a little bit about it. The culmination of all of the activities is the basketball game. You have to enjoy that stuff, high school goes by quick, but just make sure the game is your most important focus.”
Keota has won 27-in-a-row in the series, including a 62-45 win earlier this year.
The Keota girls are 11-4 on the year and 6-4 in conference after a 52-48 setback Friday at English Valleys. This season the Eagles score 53 per night and give up 38 on 36% shooting, 28% from three and 59% at the line with 34 rebounds, 14 steals, 11 assists and 18 turnovers per game. Individually, Cameron Haifley puts up 16 points per night with three steals and two assists. Jessalyn Aller is best at seven boards per night. HLV is 4-9 this year, 2-8 in conference after dropping a 64-18 game at Lynnville-Sully earlier this week. The Warriorettes score 29 per game and give up 47 on 32% shooting, 24% from three and 60% at the line with 22 rebounds, seven assists and steals and 22 turnovers per game. Individually, Emery Hall leads at 12 points, three steals and three assists per game. Bryndal Jack’s seven rebounds per night are best. Eagle head coach Jeff Sprouse joined the KCII Radio Coaches Corner to talk about the keys to his team bouncing back Thursday. “It’s about physicality. Making sure that we’re taking care of the ball, getting to the rim and finishing. Clean up, key, fixable errors. When you make a pass you meet the ball, shoot free throws and get there more. Be aggressive and attack the rim. When we play HLV, they’ll come at us and it will be kind of a frenetic pace. We didn’t play really well up there this year, but we were able to get a win.”
These teams have split their last four matchups with the Eagles winning earlier this year 57-31. This game will serve as Homecoming for Keota High School with extra activities surrounding the game. You can hear all of the action live tonight on AM 1380, FM 102.5, the KCII2 App and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Area Game of the Week Pregame Show at 5:30p.m.,tip of the girls game at six with the boys to follow from Keota High School.