JEWELL, Ia. — The Roland-Story Norsemen and South Hamilton Hawks basketball teams returned to action on Tuesday night, as the two schools renewed their long-standing rivalry in Heart of Iowa Conference action at South Hamilton High School.
Roland-Story took the initial lead, up 15-7 after the first quarter, but South Hamilton hung around into halftime with the score at 32-17. The 3rd quarter wound up being the pull-away period, as the Norse outscored the Hawks 20-9 in the frame to coast to a 60-35 victory.
The KQWC Player of the Game for Roland-Story was junior Riley Johnson, who had a game-high 28 points, as Brinley Carlson added 9 points for the Norse. The KQWC Player of the Game for South Hamilton was junior Tessa Skartvedt, who finished with 9 points and 6 rebounds, while Emma Lammers added 6 points for the Hawks.
The boys game followed as the first half would be competitive, as the Norsemen led 13-9 after the first quarter, as a late push in the 2nd quarter put Roland-Story up 29-14 at halftime. A big 3rd quarter put the Norsemen ahead 47-21 headed into the 4th as an even 4th quarter gave Roland-Story a 60-35 victory.
The KQWC Player of the Game for Roland-Story was sophomore Colin Willis, who finished with 16 points, while Luke Thoreson added 15 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. The KQWC Player of the Game for South Hamilton was sophomore Ben Swenson, who had 9 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals, as Luke Martensen led the Hawks with 11 points.
Roland-Story basketball returns to action on Thursday, when they travel to Grundy County to take on the Dike-New Hartford Wolverines in non-conference action with tipoff at 6:15 PM. South Hamilton basketball returns to action on Thursday, when they travel to Eldora to take on the South Hardin Tigers in non-conference action with tipoff at 6:15 PM.