LE GRAND — The Class 1A No. 9 AGWSR girls’ basketball team took an early lead and slowly stretched it to its final margin, beating East Marshall 48-38 in NICL West Division action here Friday night.

The Mustangs (1-4, 0-2) trailed by five after the opening quarter, eight at the half, nine after three periods and 10 at the final horn in suffering their fourth-straight loss.

Olivia Terrones led East Marshall with 14 points and five rebounds. Maria Rasmusson added eight points, and both Melinda Puumala and Abby Ryan scored six points.

Aubrie Fisher made four 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 22 points for AGWSR (3-1, 2-1). Alyssa Hames added seven points for the Cougars.

East Marshall returns to the court Tuesday with an NICL West tilt at South Hardin.

Top-ranked Spartans down Comets

CONRAD — The Class 2A No. 1 Grundy Center girls’ basketball team got double-digit scoring from both of its post players on its way to a 61-30 victory over BCLUW in Friday’s NICL West Division contest.

Brooke Flater led all players with 18 points and Kylie Willis added 12 points and a team-leading six rebounds for the Spartans (5-0, 3-0). Hailey Wallis chipped in nine points and Cora Saak added eight for Grundy Center.

Payton Pekarek posted a team-high nine points for BCLUW (2-4, 1-1). Katie Thompson had six points, six rebounds and two steals, and Madi Ubben added five points and four boards for the Comets.

BCLUW is back in action with a non-conference game today against North Tama at 5 p.m. in Traer.

Mustangs take two in NICL triangular

LE GRAND — The East Marshall/GMG wrestling team swept a pair of NICL wrestling duals on Thursday night, knocking off Sumner-Fredericksburg and Jesup in conference action.

The Mustangs (3-1) trailed Sumner-Fredericksburg 31-15 through the first nine matches before rallying to win the final five bouts for a 42-31 victory. EM/GMG got pins from Dominick Ridout, Kordel Negrete, Tim Benson and Carson Burchland plus a decision for Dane Thompson to provide the winning surge for the Mustangs.

Jesup sent just four wrestlers to the mat as East Marshall/GMG won 76-3 in the final dual of the night.

Negrete (120 pounds) was the only Mustang to score two match victories on the night, getting a 56-second pin of S-F’s Carter Dralle and an 18-5 major decision over Jesup’s Brady Wilson.

Caden Steward picked up a pin at 170 against Sumner-Fredericksburg, while Joe Smith (152) and Cole Nauman (160) got back-to-back pins for the Mustangs against Jesup.

East Marshall/GMG goes to Grinnell’s Tiger Duals today.

Iowa’s Epenesa a Polynesian finalist

IOWA CITY — University of Iowa sophomore defensive end A.J. Epenesa has been named one of five finalists for the Polynesian Player of the Year Award, presented annually by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry who epitomizes great ability and integrity.

Epenesa, a 6-foot-5, 277-pound sophomore, played in all 12 games this season for the Iowa football team. Heading to the Outback Bowl, Epenesa has 20 solo tackles, 15 assists, and shared the Big Ten Conference lead with teammate Anthony Nelson with 9.5 sacks. Epenesa leads the Hawkeyes with 15.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.

The Glen Carbon, Ill., native was a first-team all-Big Ten selection by the coaches and second team by the media. He is the son of former Hawkeye defensive lineman Epenesa “Eppy” Epenesa.