It was a special Thursday night of Big 7 League basketball and the host Royal Valley Panthers notched a pair of wins against Hiawatha to take some momentum into the holiday break. 

GIRLS = Royal Valley 46, Hiawatha 38

Royal Valley scored 11 straight points and led 14-3 after one quarter when Kennedy Bryan hit a shot just inside half court to beat the buzzer.  Hiawatha came back to tie the game however with 16 points each at halftime. The Panthers would start the second half on a 9-0 run and never really look back while hitting 10 free throws in the fourth quarter to protect the lead.  Both teams had 24 turnovers in the contest, but it was the aggressive and attacking offensive mindset of Royal Valley in the second half that gave them an advantage and the win. 

Halina Williamson scored 9 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter to help secure the victory and push the Panthers record to 2-2 on the season.  Bryan had 12 points and Maddie Saia added eight.  Hiawatha was led by Bailey Pierce with 12 points, seven of which came in the second stanza and got the Hawks back in the game. Sarah Madsen chipped in 10 points before the Redhawks fell to 0-3 in the Big 7 League and 2-3 overall this season.   

BOYS = Royal Valley 61, Hiawatha 48

Royal Valley went on a 24-3 run in the first half and shot the ball extremely well while attacking and getting high percentage shots as well as several offensive boards and second chance points in building a 28-11 advantage.  Hiawatha never got any closer than 10 points in the second half and battled foul trouble while also making just 5 of 20 free throws in the game.  Tyler Brockoff and Parker Winters each scored 11 points while Sage Meyer had 10 and Michael Moreno nine as Hiawatha boys also dropped to 0-3 in the Big 7 League and 2-3 overall heading into 2020.  

Nachs Wahwassuck had 21 points for the Panthers and played smart and poised while staying in the game despite picking up two fouls in the first two minutes of the contest. Brady Klotz had 16 and Komesh Spoonhunter scored 12 as that duo gave Royal Valley a strong physical presense and big advantage in the paint on both ends of the court. Royal Valley made 15 of 22 free throws and improved to 4-0 as the only Big 7 League boys team still undefeated this season. 

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Halina Williamson and Nachs Wahwassuck of Royal Valley