The Keota Eagle girls basketball team saw their season draw to a close Friday night in the semifinal round of the Class 1A Regional Tournament, dropping a 70-42 contest at No. 6 Dunkerton. The Raiders used their defense to get out to a fast start, scoring the first 13 points of the game and leading 22-7 after one quarter, forcing 11 first period turnovers. Keota countered in the second, scoring the final nine of the half and winning the frame 17-13 to climb within 39-20 at the break. An Emily Conger three out of half made it 12 straight for Keota to get within 16, but the Raiders turned it on from there, stretching their lead to as large as 31 in the second half. Following the contest, Eagle head coach Jeff Sprouse talked about what he saw from his team Friday, what decided the game, and the season the Eagles had. “We just dug ourselves a hole. They are fast and quick with long arms and they can move. You make any kind of uncrisp pass and don’t just to the ball…you have a problem. I was proud of our physicality. We did not back away from them. Moving forward it bodes well for us. To get into high-level games like this one was, you have to be able to be physical and meet the ball. I thought between that, the drives to the rim and boxing out, we held our own and made them work for everything. We talked to Kennedy (Jackson) and Dakota (Dodd). Their careers are over as seniors but, we told them, three years ago you bought in. From where we started there to what we have built now, it’s a little hard for them to see it right now, but when they look back on it later, they will know that they helped us turn this thing around!”

Dunkerton out shot Keota 50-33%, won assists 15-6, steals 22-5 and turnovers 26-10. The Eagles won the glass 34-28. Kylee Pexa led the Raiders with 24 points and eight assists. Hailey Kipp had 23 points and 10 boards. Keota got 22 points from Cameron Haifley. The Eagles end the year at 18-6, their most wins since 2010-11, advancing to the Regional Semifinal round of the playoffs for the first time since that same season. Dunkerton is 21-2 and will play Edgewood-Colesburg Wednesday night for a bid to State. Keota says goodbye to seniors Kennedy Jackson and Dakota Dodd.