The Eagle Grove Eagles basketball teams made the northern trek into Winnebago County on Tuesday night, to take on the Forest City Indians in Top of Iowa West Conference action in the Eagles season-opener at Forest City High School.
The night started with the Eagle Grove girls taking on an Indians squad ranked #11 in Class 3A, but the Eagles played the Indians tight early, trailing only 12-8 after the first quarter. However, Forest City ratcheted up the defensive intensity in the 2nd quarter, and went into the halftime break with a 28-12 lead. The margin only grew from there with Forest City outscoring the Eagles 20-7 in the 3rd quarter to lead 48-19, before settling with a 66-23 final score. Chloe Steil was the KQWC Player of the Game with a team-high 7 points, while Forest City’s Emma Anderson finished with a game-high 14 points.
Eagle Grove’s boys followed with all kinds of anticipation about a new-look squad in 2023-24, and the anticipation was met in kind to start. Eagle Grove led Forest City 20-18 after the first quarter, however foul trouble and turnovers began to plague the Eagles after that, as Forest City went into the halftime break with a 39-28 lead. Forest City managed to keep Eagle Grove at arms length in the 3rd quarter, holding a 55-42 advantage, but Eagle Grove would not go quietly. Belmond-Klemme transfer Tyreon Franklin sparked a 10-0 run to start the 4th quarter, that got the Eagles within 3, but timely buckets and free throws from Forest City thwarted the comeback bid as the Indians picked up the 68-59 win.
Drake Canavan was the KQWC Player of the Game with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists, while Jaxon Morris and Tyreon Franklin each finished with 15 points. Tommy Miller had a game-high 18 points to lead Forest City.
Eagle Grove returns to action on Friday, when they host West Hancock in their home opener at 6:15 PM and 7:45 PM.