GIRLS = Hiawatha 42, Royal Valley 22

The Hiawatha girls scored the first seven points of the game and used a 10-1 run to take a comanding lead and never look back in winning their season opening Friday in Hoyt.  The Lady Hawks led 28-10 after two quarters and held Royal Valley to only two field goals the entire first half.  The Panthers finished the night making only six shots while also converting 10 of 19 free throws in defeat.  Newcommer, Taylor Russell had seven points to lead Royal Valley.  

Hiawatha was led by Citizens State Bank and Trust Company "Player to Bank On," Cariann Kunkel, who posted 15 points and scored in every quarter, as did Courtney Brockoff, who totaled 12 points in her return to the court after missing last year with an injury.  Kendra Overdick added 8 points as Hiawatha improved to 1-0 with a week before their next contest.     

BOYS = Royal Valley 52, Hiawatha 45

After three early lead changes, Hiawatha took control and closed the first quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 14-7 advantage.  The Redhawks maintained that lead until the final five minutes of the game.  Trailing 20-15 at halftime, Royal Valley scored five quick points to tie the score early in the third quarter, but the Redhawks responded with a 10-2 run to take their biggest lead of the night at 30-22.  The Panthers got within 33-30 at the end of the third quarter, then outscored Hiawatha 22-12 in the final eight minutes for the opening night win.  It was sophomore, Kobe Jordan who hit a trey to break a 38-38 tie with 4:45 remaining and Royal Valley hit seven free throws down the stretch to seal the win.  

Free throws certainly cost Hiawatha as they made only 6 of 20 for the game, including connecting on just 2 of their first 13 attempts.  Joseph Kunkel paced the Hawks with 17 points while Gavin Lierz added 10 and Alex Effner had seven before he was one of two starters to foul out.  

Royal Valley was led by senior Leondre Hale, who returned to the team this season and posted 19 points to earn "Player to Bank On Honors" from the Citizens State Bank and Trust Company in Hiawatha.  Masen Spoonhunter added 12 and like Hale, finished strong with 8 points in the fourth quarter.  Jordan had all six of his points in the final frame, including the clutch go-ahead trey to help overcome just 9 of 24 free throw accuracy for the Panthers.  Royal Valley had made only 2 of 10 charity tosses entering the final period.