The Des Moines County Supervisors approved salary hikes for county officials Tuesday, Feb. 1, during the Board of Supervisors meeting.

Des Moines County compensation board member Dan Cahill presented a plan prepared by fellow board member Charlie Walsh during the meeting, asking for a 20 percent raise for Des Moines County Sheriff Kevin Glending and a 10 percent raise for Des Moines County Attorney Lisa Schaefer.&nbsp;

The board also recommended 10 percent raises for the Des Moines County auditor, Des Moines County Recorder, and Des Moines County Treasurer, as well as a 3 percent raise for the supervisors themselves.

Cahill said the raises would make the salaries commiserate to that of Iowa counties with similar-sized populations, and the “Back the Blue” law passed in 2021 specifies that the sheriff’s salary is comparable to command-level salaries at the Iowa State Patrol and city police chiefs.

The Des Moines County supervisors adopted the compensation board’s recommendations by cutting the salary hikes by 30 percent during Tuesday’s meeting.&nbsp;

They then voted unanimously to approve the salary hikes at the reduced percentage.

The Des Moines County Sheriff will receive a 14 percent pay increase, raising his salary from $108,372 to $123,544.

The Des Moines County Attorney will get a seven percent pay increase, raising her salary from $122,011 to $130,551.

The Des Moines County auditor, county recorder, and county treasurer will all receive seven percent pay raises.&nbsp;

The auditor’s salary will increase from $76,066 to $81,390, the county recorder’s salary will increase from $76,066 to $81,390, and the county treasurer’s salary will be raised from $75,359 to $80, 643.

The Des Moines County Supervisors — Shane McCampbell, Jim Cary, and Tom Broeker — will each receive a 2.1 percent raise, raising their salaries from $40,506 to 41,356.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/2/1675388095323.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Beacon StaffThe Des Moines County Supervisors approved salary hikes for county officials Tuesday, Feb. 1, during the Board of Supervisors meeting.Des Moines County compensation board member Dan Cahill presented a plan prepared by fellow board member Charlie Walsh during the meeting, asking for a 20 percent raise for Des Moines County Sheriff Kevin Glending and a 10 percent raise for Des Moines County Attorney Lisa Schaefer.&nbsp;The board also recommended 10 percent raises for the Des Moines County auditor, Des Moines County Recorder, and Des Moines County Treasurer, as well as a 3 percent raise for the supervisors themselves.Cahill said the raises would make the salaries commiserate to that of Iowa counties with similar-sized populations, and the “Back the Blue” law passed in 2021 specifies that the sheriff’s salary is comparable to command-level salaries at the Iowa State Patrol and city police chiefs.The Des Moines County supervisors adopted the compensation board’s recommendations by cutting the salary hikes by 30 percent during Tuesday’s meeting.&nbsp;They then voted unanimously to approve the salary hikes at the reduced percentage.The Des Moines County Sheriff will receive a 14 percent pay increase, raising his salary from $108,372 to $123,544.The Des Moines County Attorney will get a seven percent pay increase, raising her salary from $122,011 to $130,551.The Des Moines County auditor, county recorder, and county treasurer will all receive seven percent pay raises.&nbsp;The auditor’s salary will increase from $76,066 to $81,390, the county recorder’s salary will increase from $76,066 to $81,390, and the county treasurer’s salary will be raised from $75,359 to $80, 643.The Des Moines County Supervisors — Shane McCampbell, Jim Cary, and Tom Broeker — will each receive a 2.1 percent raise, raising their salaries from $40,506 to 41,356.

 Board OKs County Salary Hikes

Above:&nbsp;New London High School's Rylan Martin (2) fouls West Burlington's Mason Watkins, with both players taking flight in a varsity boys basketball game at New London's Charles Lorber Gymnasium Friday night. New London's Leo Gebauer is behind Watkins. West Burlington beat New London 62-55 and finished unbeaten in the South Division at 13-0. Photo/Chris Faulkner

West Burlington High School's fifth-ranked (Class 2A) boys basketball team kept its unbeaten streak alive at 17 after holding back New London 62-55 Friday at Charles Lorber Gymnasium.

It was a different kind of night for the Falcons, who saw Parker Lau make just one 3-pointer and Brady Martin zero. But post-player Hayden Vandenberg, known mostly for his defense, picked up the slack with 12 points, seven of which came in the first quarter.

Blaise Porter racked up 34 points, including 14 in the final quarter. But the Tigers were playing without 6-7 senior Kade Benjamin, who is sidelined with a knee injury.

The victory gives West Burlington the South Division title at 13-0 and sets up a showdown with No. 3 (Class 1A) WACO Saturday, Feb. 4, in the championship game of the Southeast Iowa Superconference Tournament. That will be played at Southeastern Community College's Loren Walker Arena.

Also Friday night, West Burlington won the girls game handily 74-36 over winless New London. The Falcons improve to 12-5 overall, 10-3 in the South.

West Burlington's teams play home to Danville next Tuesday.

In the West Burlington-New London boys game, both teams struggled in different areas.

The Falcons shot just 6 of 18 in the first quarter, and Brady Martin picked up two fouls early in the game. He would foul out with 3:34 left in the game and finish with just six points.

New London, meanwhile, made five first-quarter turnovers. But four 3-pointers — two by Rylan Martin and two by Porter — helped keep the game tied 14-14 after one.

It was a back-and-forth game in the second quarter, and West Burlington led 30-28 at halftime.

Turnovers still plagued the Tigers while West Burlington, without any full-court pressure by New London, had just one turnover through the first three quarters. They would commit five in the fourth quarter, including two charging calls.

Mason Watkins, who would lead the Falcons with 20 points, picked up the scoring pace and put the visitors up 45-35 with 3:10 left in the third quarter. But Porter scored, and Rylan Martin hit a 3 to cut the lead to 45-40 heading into the fourth quarter.

New London's Leo Gebauer scored on the first possession of the quarter to make it 45-42. But the Tigers never got any closer.

Six Falcons scored in the final period, and Porter missed four 3-pointers in trying to make up ground quickly for the Tigers.

New London was forced to foul in the closing 1:16, and West Burlington only made 4 of 9 in that stretch. But the Tigers couldn't capitalize.

West Burlington coach Ryan O'Hern first offered praise for Porter, who is headed for Truman State this fall. Truman State is coached by University of Iowa standout Jeff Horner, who O'Hern grew up playing basketball with.

“(It was) a phenenomal and special performance tonight by Blaise Porter with Benjamin out,” O'Hern said.

“He carried the team. He made tough shot after shot after shot.”

But O'Hern also saw the Tiger standout from a different perspective.

“The cool thing for me is just being able to take some time during the game just to be a fan,” he said.

“I got a second-grade son sitting in the first row, and for him to see that kind of game tonight, it makes you want to practice and getting better.”

O'Hern said New London's role players kept them in the game.

“We battled some adversity with foul trouble, but we were able to grind out, getting some stops.”

He said Watkins hit some big shots in the game.

But another player drew the biggest praise from Coach O'Hern.

He said Vandenberg “is a competitive young man in every sport he plays. He had the best game of his career and couldn't be more proud of him.

“He needs to continue to give us that kind of effort with the rebounding and finishing under the basket. He was tremendous,” O'Hern said.

Lau finished with nine points for the Falcons, Jace Figuereo had eight, Aiden Figuereo seven, and Martin had six.

Rylan Martin hit just two more 3s after the first quarter and scored 12. Brendan Richey had seven and Gebauer two as the Tigers had just four players score.

Porter finished with 13 rebounds and Memphis Watson, Gebauer, and Richey all grabbed seven.

Above: West Burlington's Isabella Blaufuss (2) goes up for an uncontested layup while teammate Taryn Havener (14) blocks out a New London defender in Friday's varsity girls' basketball game at Charles Lorber Gymnasium. The Falcons beat the Tigers 74-36. Photo/Chris Faulkner

In the girls' game, West Burlington led 35-21 at halftime and then outscored the Tigers 20-2 until the final minute when No. 32 scored, and then Emma Nye banked in a half-court buzzer-beater.

Abbey Bence paced the Falcons with 31 points. Taryn Havener scored 18, and Isabella Blaufuss had a good night with 14.

Isabella Callison added six points, Isabelle Ritter four, and Taryn Snodgrass one.

Mylee Miller led New London with 16 points.

Nye scored eight points, and Natalie Burden had six points.

The Falcons are third in the conference. No. 13 (2A) Mediapolis defeated No. 11 (1A) Burlington Notre Dame 53-44 Friday to take first place, with the Nikes second.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1674930156904.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;New London High School's Rylan Martin (2) fouls West Burlington's Mason Watkins, with both players taking flight in a varsity boys basketball game at New London's Charles Lorber Gymnasium Friday night. New London's Leo Gebauer is behind Watkins. West Burlington beat New London 62-55 and finished unbeaten in the South Division at 13-0. Photo/Chris FaulknerBy Chris FaulknerWest Burlington High School's fifth-ranked (Class 2A) boys basketball team kept its unbeaten streak alive at 17 after holding back New London 62-55 Friday at Charles Lorber Gymnasium.It was a different kind of night for the Falcons, who saw Parker Lau make just one 3-pointer and Brady Martin zero. But post-player Hayden Vandenberg, known mostly for his defense, picked up the slack with 12 points, seven of which came in the first quarter.Blaise Porter racked up 34 points, including 14 in the final quarter. But the Tigers were playing without 6-7 senior Kade Benjamin, who is sidelined with a knee injury.The victory gives West Burlington the South Division title at 13-0 and sets up a showdown with No. 3 (Class 1A) WACO Saturday, Feb. 4, in the championship game of the Southeast Iowa Superconference Tournament. That will be played at Southeastern Community College's Loren Walker Arena.Also Friday night, West Burlington won the girls game handily 74-36 over winless New London. The Falcons improve to 12-5 overall, 10-3 in the South.West Burlington's teams play home to Danville next Tuesday.In the West Burlington-New London boys game, both teams struggled in different areas.The Falcons shot just 6 of 18 in the first quarter, and Brady Martin picked up two fouls early in the game. He would foul out with 3:34 left in the game and finish with just six points.New London, meanwhile, made five first-quarter turnovers. But four 3-pointers — two by Rylan Martin and two by Porter — helped keep the game tied 14-14 after one.It was a back-and-forth game in the second quarter, and West Burlington led 30-28 at halftime.Turnovers still plagued the Tigers while West Burlington, without any full-court pressure by New London, had just one turnover through the first three quarters. They would commit five in the fourth quarter, including two charging calls.Mason Watkins, who would lead the Falcons with 20 points, picked up the scoring pace and put the visitors up 45-35 with 3:10 left in the third quarter. But Porter scored, and Rylan Martin hit a 3 to cut the lead to 45-40 heading into the fourth quarter.New London's Leo Gebauer scored on the first possession of the quarter to make it 45-42. But the Tigers never got any closer.Six Falcons scored in the final period, and Porter missed four 3-pointers in trying to make up ground quickly for the Tigers.New London was forced to foul in the closing 1:16, and West Burlington only made 4 of 9 in that stretch. But the Tigers couldn't capitalize.West Burlington coach Ryan O'Hern first offered praise for Porter, who is headed for Truman State this fall. Truman State is coached by University of Iowa standout Jeff Horner, who O'Hern grew up playing basketball with.“(It was) a phenenomal and special performance tonight by Blaise Porter with Benjamin out,” O'Hern said.“He carried the team. He made tough shot after shot after shot.”But O'Hern also saw the Tiger standout from a different perspective.“The cool thing for me is just being able to take some time during the game just to be a fan,” he said.“I got a second-grade son sitting in the first row, and for him to see that kind of game tonight, it makes you want to practice and getting better.”O'Hern said New London's role players kept them in the game.“We battled some adversity with foul trouble, but we were able to grind out, getting some stops.”He said Watkins hit some big shots in the game.But another player drew the biggest praise from Coach O'Hern.He said Vandenberg “is a competitive young man in every sport he plays. He had the best game of his career and couldn't be more proud of him.“He needs to continue to give us that kind of effort with the rebounding and finishing under the basket. He was tremendous,” O'Hern said.Lau finished with nine points for the Falcons, Jace Figuereo had eight, Aiden Figuereo seven, and Martin had six.Jace Figuereo had eight rebounds.Rylan Martin hit just two more 3s after the first quarter and scored 12. Brendan Richey had seven and Gebauer two as the Tigers had just four players score.Porter finished with 13 rebounds and Memphis Watson, Gebauer, and Richey all grabbed seven.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1674930233840.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: West Burlington's Isabella Blaufuss (2) goes up for an uncontested layup while teammate Taryn Havener (14) blocks out a New London defender in Friday's varsity girls' basketball game at Charles Lorber Gymnasium. The Falcons beat the Tigers 74-36. Photo/Chris FaulknerFalcons win girls' gameIn the girls' game, West Burlington led 35-21 at halftime and then outscored the Tigers 20-2 until the final minute when No. 32 scored, and then Emma Nye banked in a half-court buzzer-beater.Abbey Bence paced the Falcons with 31 points. Taryn Havener scored 18, and Isabella Blaufuss had a good night with 14.Isabella Callison added six points, Isabelle Ritter four, and Taryn Snodgrass one.Mylee Miller led New London with 16 points.Nye scored eight points, and Natalie Burden had six points.The Falcons are third in the conference. No. 13 (2A) Mediapolis defeated No. 11 (1A) Burlington Notre Dame 53-44 Friday to take first place, with the Nikes second.

WB's boys team tops New London to go to 17-0; girls roll past Tigers

Above:&nbsp; Burlington High School's Merquiche Lewis Jr. (21) goes up for a basket on Friday (Jan. 27) during their game against Washington High school at BHS.&nbsp; Photo/John Lovretta

By Joe Geren Beacon Sports It appears that the way to beat the Washington High School boys basketball team is to stop Ethan Patterson, and Burlington High School managed that for three quarters Friday night at Carl Johannsen Gymnasium. In the Southeast Conference game, the Grayhounds came from behind to exorcise the Demons, 71-48. BHS, now 13-4 overall, claimed sole possession of the second place in the conference with a 6-2 mark. Washington (7-7, 5-3) fell to third place. Mount Pleasant (13-3, 7-1) maintained its grip on the conference lead with a 66-47 win over Keokuk Friday night. Patterson, a 5-11 senior guard, scored 11 points in the first quarter and the Demons led 16-10, but Burlington tied it at 16-all on a steal and layup by Merquiche Lewis Jr. with 32 seconds remaining in the period. The Grayhounds allowed Patterson just two more points for the rest of the game. The Hounds led 31-24 at halftime and 55-39 at the three-quarter mark. BHS coach Caleb Akey said BHS changed “really nothing” defensively against Patterson after his big first quarter. “We talked about him,” Akey said. “We needed to guard him. He came out aggressive, looking to attack, and I think it kind of made our kids wake up. He’s really a great shooter, but what often gets overlooked is his ability to drive to the basket. I think he was just taking advantage of that and when we finally settled down and kept in mind that he’s a complete player we started to guard.” Merquiche Lewis Jr. led Burlington and all scorers with 31 points and the rebounders with 14. He also had five assists, four steals, and two blocked shots. Sophomore Nehemiah Lewis, who entered the game with a 7.25 scoring average, erupted for 19 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field. He had five assists, four steals, four rebounds, and two blocked shots. “He’s got confidence,” Akey said of Nehemiah Lewis. “When that happens you really get the opportunity to see him play. He’s explosive. He’s super strong. When that confidence kicks in you’re able to see that.” J.J Martin had nine points, Christos Kantzavelos scored six, and Bryson Tate, Mateo Rascon, and Lebron Applegate each added two points.

Above:&nbsp;Burlington High School's JJ Martin (0) celebrates a three-pointer during their game against Washington High School. Photo/John Lovretta

Ajay Six led Washington with 17 points. Logan McDole added 11. The game avenged a 59-44 loss at Washington on Dec. 9. “We played a lot of zone up there,” Akey said. “We played man-to-man and zone, but really it was our intensity (Friday night). We looked at some statistics and we fouled them a lot up there. They shot like 28 free throws. We missed a bunch of layups up there and Quiche and J.J. were in foul trouble up there. I mean it was like the perfect storm. We avoided those problems today and put the ball in the hole and it worked pretty well for us.” The Grayhounds are now idle until Feb. 2 when they play at Mount Pleasant.

Above:&nbsp;Burlington High School's head coach Caleb Akey gives directions to his players. Photo/John Lovretta

BHS GIRLS FALL The Demons beat the Burlington girls, 50-35, in a Southeast Conference game at Washington Friday night. Washington improved to 7-9 (4-5). Burlington (4-11, 1-7) hosts Mount Pleasant on Feb. 3.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1674883260469.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp; Burlington High School's Merquiche Lewis Jr. (21) goes up for a basket on Friday (Jan. 27) during their game against Washington High school at BHS.&nbsp; Photo/John Lovretta By Joe Geren Beacon Sports It appears that the way to beat the Washington High School boys basketball team is to stop Ethan Patterson, and Burlington High School managed that for three quarters Friday night at Carl Johannsen Gymnasium. In the Southeast Conference game, the Grayhounds came from behind to exorcise the Demons, 71-48. BHS, now 13-4 overall, claimed sole possession of the second place in the conference with a 6-2 mark. Washington (7-7, 5-3) fell to third place. Mount Pleasant (13-3, 7-1) maintained its grip on the conference lead with a 66-47 win over Keokuk Friday night. Patterson, a 5-11 senior guard, scored 11 points in the first quarter and the Demons led 16-10, but Burlington tied it at 16-all on a steal and layup by Merquiche Lewis Jr. with 32 seconds remaining in the period. The Grayhounds allowed Patterson just two more points for the rest of the game. The Hounds led 31-24 at halftime and 55-39 at the three-quarter mark. BHS coach Caleb Akey said BHS changed “really nothing” defensively against Patterson after his big first quarter. “We talked about him,” Akey said. “We needed to guard him. He came out aggressive, looking to attack, and I think it kind of made our kids wake up. He’s really a great shooter, but what often gets overlooked is his ability to drive to the basket. I think he was just taking advantage of that and when we finally settled down and kept in mind that he’s a complete player we started to guard.” Merquiche Lewis Jr. led Burlington and all scorers with 31 points and the rebounders with 14. He also had five assists, four steals, and two blocked shots. Sophomore Nehemiah Lewis, who entered the game with a 7.25 scoring average, erupted for 19 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field. He had five assists, four steals, four rebounds, and two blocked shots. “He’s got confidence,” Akey said of Nehemiah Lewis. “When that happens you really get the opportunity to see him play. He’s explosive. He’s super strong. When that confidence kicks in you’re able to see that.” J.J Martin had nine points, Christos Kantzavelos scored six, and Bryson Tate, Mateo Rascon, and Lebron Applegate each added two points.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1674883373824.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Burlington High School's JJ Martin (0) celebrates a three-pointer during their game against Washington High School. Photo/John LovrettaAjay Six led Washington with 17 points. Logan McDole added 11. The game avenged a 59-44 loss at Washington on Dec. 9. “We played a lot of zone up there,” Akey said. “We played man-to-man and zone, but really it was our intensity (Friday night). We looked at some statistics and we fouled them a lot up there. They shot like 28 free throws. We missed a bunch of layups up there and Quiche and J.J. were in foul trouble up there. I mean it was like the perfect storm. We avoided those problems today and put the ball in the hole and it worked pretty well for us.” The Grayhounds are now idle until Feb. 2 when they play at Mount Pleasant.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1674883586507.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Burlington High School's head coach Caleb Akey gives directions to his players. Photo/John LovrettaBHS GIRLS FALL The Demons beat the Burlington girls, 50-35, in a Southeast Conference game at Washington Friday night. Washington improved to 7-9 (4-5). Burlington (4-11, 1-7) hosts Mount Pleasant on Feb. 3.

Hounds stop Patterson, Demons

Above:&nbsp;Southeastern Community College's Jaylen Searles puts up a shot on Saturday, Jan. 21, during their game against Marshalltown Community College at SCC's Loren Walker Arena in West Burlington. Photo/John Lovretta

Marshalltown’s final two shots missed the mark and Southeastern Community College survived, 58-56, in an Iowa Community College Athletic Conference men’s basketball game at Loren Walker Arena Saturday night.

There were 13 lead changes and the game was tied six times. SCC took the lead for good at 43-40 on a Davion Bailey 3-pointer with 13:17 left to play. Twenty-two seconds later, Bailey hit another 3-pointer for a six-point lead.

&nbsp;That proved to be the largest cushion the Blackhawks would enjoy the entire game.

A steal and a layup by the Tigers’ Tyler Burroughs with 2:20 left, coupled with two free throws by Trey Sinegal at 1:16, pulled Marshalltown to within a point at 56-57. But the Tigers wouldn’t score again.

Above:&nbsp;Southeastern Community College's Railer Vargas (32) tries to put up a shot under the basket during their game against Marshalltown Community College. Photo/John Lovretta

In the last five seconds, a Marshalltown jump shot and a putback attempt both failed, and the Blackhawks escaped with the victory.

SCC improved to 17-4 overall and 1-1 in the ICCAC. Marshalltown is 8-12 (0-1).

Bailey led all scorers with 18 points, including five 3-pointers, and Isaiah Griffin had 12 points. Jack Wetzel and Jhonny Tovar both scored seven points for the Blackhawks. Railer Vargas and Jaylen Searles each scored six points and Kaden Johnson added two.

Marshalltown had three players in double figures. Sinegal led with 15 points. Zion Obaula scored 12 and Gedeon Shango added 11 points.

The Blackhawks hit the road next weekend, playing at Triton Friday and at Malcolm X on Saturday.

Above: Southeastern Community College's Davion Bailey (5) looks to pass the ball during their game against Marshalltown Community College. Photo/John Lovretta

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1674413310129.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Southeastern Community College's Jaylen Searles puts up a shot on Saturday, Jan. 21, during their game against Marshalltown Community College at SCC's Loren Walker Arena in West Burlington. Photo/John LovrettaBy Joe Geren&nbsp;Marshalltown’s final two shots missed the mark and Southeastern Community College survived, 58-56, in an Iowa Community College Athletic Conference men’s basketball game at Loren Walker Arena Saturday night.There were 13 lead changes and the game was tied six times. SCC took the lead for good at 43-40 on a Davion Bailey 3-pointer with 13:17 left to play. Twenty-two seconds later, Bailey hit another 3-pointer for a six-point lead.&nbsp;That proved to be the largest cushion the Blackhawks would enjoy the entire game.A steal and a layup by the Tigers’ Tyler Burroughs with 2:20 left, coupled with two free throws by Trey Sinegal at 1:16, pulled Marshalltown to within a point at 56-57. But the Tigers wouldn’t score again.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1674413437941.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Southeastern Community College's Railer Vargas (32) tries to put up a shot under the basket during their game against Marshalltown Community College. Photo/John LovrettaIn the last five seconds, a Marshalltown jump shot and a putback attempt both failed, and the Blackhawks escaped with the victory.SCC improved to 17-4 overall and 1-1 in the ICCAC. Marshalltown is 8-12 (0-1).Bailey led all scorers with 18 points, including five 3-pointers, and Isaiah Griffin had 12 points. Jack Wetzel and Jhonny Tovar both scored seven points for the Blackhawks. Railer Vargas and Jaylen Searles each scored six points and Kaden Johnson added two.Marshalltown had three players in double figures. Sinegal led with 15 points. Zion Obaula scored 12 and Gedeon Shango added 11 points.The Blackhawks hit the road next weekend, playing at Triton Friday and at Malcolm X on Saturday.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1674413608536.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Southeastern Community College's Davion Bailey (5) looks to pass the ball during their game against Marshalltown Community College. Photo/John Lovretta

SCC Escapes Marshalltown

Above:&nbsp;Mediapolis' Cole Lipper (5) fires a 3-pointer past the outstretched arm of West Burlington High School's Hayden Vandenberg in Friday's varsity boys basketball game at the Falcons' gym. Mediapolis led 11-3, but the Falcons put together a couple of good scoring spurts and went on to win 56-43. West Burlington, ranked fifth in Class 2A by the Iowa High School Athletic Association, improves to 14-0.&nbsp; Photo/Chris Faulkner

&nbsp;Mediapolis' lead of fifth-ranked West Burlington's boys basketball team was short-lived.

The Bulldogs jumped out to an 11-3 lead in Friday's South Division game, but the Falcons regrouped. West Burlington closed out the first quarter with a 13-3 run, posted a 17-3 streak that overlapped into the second half and went on to win 56-43 at the Falcons' gym.

In the girls game, Mediapolis defeated West Burlington 76-62. The Falcons last week lost McKenna Marlow to a dislocated kneecap on her right leg, and she's done for the season.

Brady Martin sparked the Falcons' comeback in the boys game. He scored 10 of his game-high 24 points in the first quarter. He would go on to shoot 9 of 18 from the field and 4 of 6 from the line.

Mediapolis hit three 3-pointers to start the game off and made seven by halftime, compared to just three 2-point field goals.

“Mediapolis came out on fire,” West Burlington coach Ryan O'Hern said of the Bulldogs' seven 3-pointers. “They're capable of shooting the ball that well.

“I thought we tightened up our defense in the second half and closed off shooters quicker,” O'Hern said.

Mediapolis didn't score in the second half until the 2:34 mark.

“Offensively we have to keep moving the ball, finding the open guy, making an extra pass. Sometimes in the last three games, we've been stymied offensively with poor ball movement.”

Jace Figuereo had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Parker Lau had eight points. Aidan Figuereo and Zach Webb added four points each, and Hayden Vandenberg added a field goal.

Cole Lipper scored from inside the paint and behind the arc and led the Bulldogs with 17 points. Jackson Hutcheson had nine points, Ben Egan six, Drew Miller four, Jacob Grier three, and Lance Ludens and Xayvion Gordon two each.

West Burlington's boys still lead the South at 11-0, 14-0 overall. The Falcons host North Division foe Winfield-Mount Union (11-3) next Monday and then host Central Lee Tuesday for a South Division contest.

Mediapolis' boys fall to 5-5 in the South, and 8-6 overall. The Bulldogs play at New London Tuesday.

Mediapolis' girls had also gotten off to an 11-3 start but they had a strong defensive attack and a balanced offense to weather the Falcons' comeback efforts.

The Bulldogs led 21-16 after the first quarter but an 11-4 run put the lead in double digits, and the Falcons could get no closer than nine the rest of the way.

“One thing that we base our program off of is the ability to play full-court defense,” Mediapolis coach Scott Borrison.

Knowing that the short-handed Falcons were another player down, “We felt this was a team, if we didn't get a lot of steals or transition buckets, we'd at least wear them down during the course of the game,” Borrison said.

Payton Bush hit five 3-pointers and scored 21 points, 16 of them in the first half. Liz Lane pounded the ball inside and scored 20. She also topped the 500-point mark for career scoring and now has 511.

Above:&nbsp;Liz Lane of Mediapolis tries to score past West Burlington defender Isabella Callison in Friday's South Division girls' basketball game at the Falcons' gym. Mediapolis teammate Grace Holsteen is also pictured. Lane topped the 500-point mark for her career and her 20 points helped the Bulldogs beat West Burlington 76-62.Photo/Chris Faulkner

“We felt that they were going to spread on our shooters, and she was going to have some very good opportunities in the paint, and she capitalized on that.”

Bush recently topped the 700-point mark and has 730.

Sharing the scoring wealth in Friday's game were Haley Steffener with 13, Grace Holsteen with 11, and Hanna Wagenbach with eight. Jaydon Wirt added a 3-pointer.

Abbey Bence scored 31 points for West Burlington. Isabella Blaufuss finished with 12 and Trayn Havenber with 10. Isabelle Ritter had seven points, and Isabella Callison scored a field goal.

“We just didn't play good defense,” Falcons coach John Vandenberg said, noting that 62 points are usually a good enough output to win a game.

“We didn't box out. We didn't rebound. We let them dominate in the paint. We let their shooters just go.”

Mediapolis is 11-2 in the South, and 13-2 overall. The Bulldogs play Saturday against a state-ranked Orangeville, Ill., team at 3 p.m. At West Carroll High School. They play next Tuesday in New London.

West Burlington drops to 8-3 in the South, 10-4 overall, and host on Monday to Camp Point Central of Illinois at 6 p.m., followed by the boys' game against Winfield-Mount Union.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1674326814492.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Mediapolis' Cole Lipper (5) fires a 3-pointer past the outstretched arm of West Burlington High School's Hayden Vandenberg in Friday's varsity boys basketball game at the Falcons' gym. Mediapolis led 11-3, but the Falcons put together a couple of good scoring spurts and went on to win 56-43. West Burlington, ranked fifth in Class 2A by the Iowa High School Athletic Association, improves to 14-0.&nbsp; Photo/Chris FaulknerBy Chris Faulkner&nbsp;Mediapolis' lead of fifth-ranked West Burlington's boys basketball team was short-lived.The Bulldogs jumped out to an 11-3 lead in Friday's South Division game, but the Falcons regrouped. West Burlington closed out the first quarter with a 13-3 run, posted a 17-3 streak that overlapped into the second half and went on to win 56-43 at the Falcons' gym.In the girls game, Mediapolis defeated West Burlington 76-62. The Falcons last week lost McKenna Marlow to a dislocated kneecap on her right leg, and she's done for the season.Brady Martin sparked the Falcons' comeback in the boys game. He scored 10 of his game-high 24 points in the first quarter. He would go on to shoot 9 of 18 from the field and 4 of 6 from the line.Mediapolis hit three 3-pointers to start the game off and made seven by halftime, compared to just three 2-point field goals.“Mediapolis came out on fire,” West Burlington coach Ryan O'Hern said of the Bulldogs' seven 3-pointers. “They're capable of shooting the ball that well.“I thought we tightened up our defense in the second half and closed off shooters quicker,” O'Hern said.Mediapolis didn't score in the second half until the 2:34 mark.“Offensively we have to keep moving the ball, finding the open guy, making an extra pass. Sometimes in the last three games, we've been stymied offensively with poor ball movement.”Jace Figuereo had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Parker Lau had eight points. Aidan Figuereo and Zach Webb added four points each, and Hayden Vandenberg added a field goal.Cole Lipper scored from inside the paint and behind the arc and led the Bulldogs with 17 points. Jackson Hutcheson had nine points, Ben Egan six, Drew Miller four, Jacob Grier three, and Lance Ludens and Xayvion Gordon two each.West Burlington's boys still lead the South at 11-0, 14-0 overall. The Falcons host North Division foe Winfield-Mount Union (11-3) next Monday and then host Central Lee Tuesday for a South Division contest.Mediapolis' boys fall to 5-5 in the South, and 8-6 overall. The Bulldogs play at New London Tuesday.Mediapolis' girls had also gotten off to an 11-3 start but they had a strong defensive attack and a balanced offense to weather the Falcons' comeback efforts.The Bulldogs led 21-16 after the first quarter but an 11-4 run put the lead in double digits, and the Falcons could get no closer than nine the rest of the way.“One thing that we base our program off of is the ability to play full-court defense,” Mediapolis coach Scott Borrison.Knowing that the short-handed Falcons were another player down, “We felt this was a team, if we didn't get a lot of steals or transition buckets, we'd at least wear them down during the course of the game,” Borrison said.Payton Bush hit five 3-pointers and scored 21 points, 16 of them in the first half. Liz Lane pounded the ball inside and scored 20. She also topped the 500-point mark for career scoring and now has 511.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1674326685377.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Liz Lane of Mediapolis tries to score past West Burlington defender Isabella Callison in Friday's South Division girls' basketball game at the Falcons' gym. Mediapolis teammate Grace Holsteen is also pictured. Lane topped the 500-point mark for her career and her 20 points helped the Bulldogs beat West Burlington 76-62.Photo/Chris Faulkner“We felt that they were going to spread on our shooters, and she was going to have some very good opportunities in the paint, and she capitalized on that.”Bush recently topped the 700-point mark and has 730.Sharing the scoring wealth in Friday's game were Haley Steffener with 13, Grace Holsteen with 11, and Hanna Wagenbach with eight. Jaydon Wirt added a 3-pointer.Abbey Bence scored 31 points for West Burlington. Isabella Blaufuss finished with 12 and Trayn Havenber with 10. Isabelle Ritter had seven points, and Isabella Callison scored a field goal.“We just didn't play good defense,” Falcons coach John Vandenberg said, noting that 62 points are usually a good enough output to win a game.“We didn't box out. We didn't rebound. We let them dominate in the paint. We let their shooters just go.”Mediapolis is 11-2 in the South, and 13-2 overall. The Bulldogs play Saturday against a state-ranked Orangeville, Ill., team at 3 p.m. At West Carroll High School. They play next Tuesday in New London.West Burlington drops to 8-3 in the South, 10-4 overall, and host on Monday to Camp Point Central of Illinois at 6 p.m., followed by the boys' game against Winfield-Mount Union.

Mediapolis girls win; No. 5 Falcons boys triumph

Above:&nbsp;With the score 56-59 and 12.9 seconds on the clock Southeastern Community College players Davion Bailey (5) Jaylen Searles (2) Deng Deang (22) Jack Wetzel (30) and Jhonny Tovar (34) head to the sideline for a timeout during their game against Indian Hills Community College, Saturday, Jan. 14 at SCC's Loren Walker Arena. SCC lost 56-59. Photo/John Lovretta

The seventh-ranked Indian Hills men’s basketball team only led for seven minutes and 22 seconds Saturday night at Loren Walker Arena, but it was the last 7:22.

The Warriors toppled No. 18 Southeastern Community College, 59-56, in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference game.

Don McHenry’s 3-pointer gave Indian Hills a 49-48 edge and the Warriors increased it to a 56-48 margin. SCC then scored eight of the last 11 points, but it wasn’t enough. A 3-point play by Jaylen Searles, then two Davion Bailey free throws with 25.5 seconds remaining pulled SCC to within a point at 56-57. Trevion LeBeaux’s putback with 13 seconds left iced the victory for Indian Hills.

The game snapped SCC’s winning streak at 10 games. It was Indian Hills’ second straight win. Indian Hills is 17-2 (1-0); SCC fell to 16-4 (0-1).

&nbsp; SCC led 32-20 at halftime, but two Blackhawk turnovers at the start of the second half allowed Indian Hills a seven-point run.

Above: Southeastern Community College's Railer Vargas (32) dunks the ball during their game against Indian Hills Community College. Photo/John Lovretta

&nbsp;“The first three or four minutes of the second half, that was the game,” SCC head coach Lorenzo Watkins said. ”We came out lackadaisical and turned the ball over, missed shots, easy shots, and (Indian Hills) got going. They hit some big shots down the stretch.”

Indian Hills didn’t change anything at halftime, Watkins said.

&nbsp; “I just thought we weren’t strong with the ball,” he said. “We turned the ball over for layups and we didn’t finish the easy shots. Our guys played well defensively. I mean, hold them to 19 percent shooting (in the first half) and then second half they go seven of 15 (from 3-point range). That’s the difference in the game. When you give up that many 3-point shots after one in 12 in the first half that’s the difference in the game.”

McHenry led all scorers with 19 points and Truth Harris added 17. Nine Warriors scored.

Just six Blackhawks reached the scoring column. Bailey and Jack Wetzel scored 13 points each, Searles had 12, Isaiah Griffin and Jhonny Tovar-Mendez each scored eight points and Railer Vargas-Hernandez added two points.

&nbsp; &nbsp; Indian Hills had 52 rebounds to SCC’s 50. Searles and Vargas-Hernandez each grabbed seven boards. Searles had three assists and two blocked shots. Tovar-Mendez also blocked two shots.

SCC returns to action Saturday, hosting Marshalltown in a 7 p.m. ICCAC game.

Above:&nbsp;Southeastern Community College's Jack Wetzel (5) takes the ball down the court. Photo/John Lovretta

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1673807541344.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;With the score 56-59 and 12.9 seconds on the clock Southeastern Community College players Davion Bailey (5) Jaylen Searles (2) Deng Deang (22) Jack Wetzel (30) and Jhonny Tovar (34) head to the sideline for a timeout during their game against Indian Hills Community College, Saturday, Jan. 14 at SCC's Loren Walker Arena. SCC lost 56-59. Photo/John LovrettaBy Joe GerenThe seventh-ranked Indian Hills men’s basketball team only led for seven minutes and 22 seconds Saturday night at Loren Walker Arena, but it was the last 7:22.The Warriors toppled No. 18 Southeastern Community College, 59-56, in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference game.Don McHenry’s 3-pointer gave Indian Hills a 49-48 edge and the Warriors increased it to a 56-48 margin. SCC then scored eight of the last 11 points, but it wasn’t enough. A 3-point play by Jaylen Searles, then two Davion Bailey free throws with 25.5 seconds remaining pulled SCC to within a point at 56-57. Trevion LeBeaux’s putback with 13 seconds left iced the victory for Indian Hills.The game snapped SCC’s winning streak at 10 games. It was Indian Hills’ second straight win. Indian Hills is 17-2 (1-0); SCC fell to 16-4 (0-1).&nbsp; SCC led 32-20 at halftime, but two Blackhawk turnovers at the start of the second half allowed Indian Hills a seven-point run.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1673807650358.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Southeastern Community College's Railer Vargas (32) dunks the ball during their game against Indian Hills Community College. Photo/John Lovretta&nbsp;“The first three or four minutes of the second half, that was the game,” SCC head coach Lorenzo Watkins said. ”We came out lackadaisical and turned the ball over, missed shots, easy shots, and (Indian Hills) got going. They hit some big shots down the stretch.”Indian Hills didn’t change anything at halftime, Watkins said.&nbsp; “I just thought we weren’t strong with the ball,” he said. “We turned the ball over for layups and we didn’t finish the easy shots. Our guys played well defensively. I mean, hold them to 19 percent shooting (in the first half) and then second half they go seven of 15 (from 3-point range). That’s the difference in the game. When you give up that many 3-point shots after one in 12 in the first half that’s the difference in the game.”McHenry led all scorers with 19 points and Truth Harris added 17. Nine Warriors scored.Just six Blackhawks reached the scoring column. Bailey and Jack Wetzel scored 13 points each, Searles had 12, Isaiah Griffin and Jhonny Tovar-Mendez each scored eight points and Railer Vargas-Hernandez added two points.&nbsp; &nbsp; Indian Hills had 52 rebounds to SCC’s 50. Searles and Vargas-Hernandez each grabbed seven boards. Searles had three assists and two blocked shots. Tovar-Mendez also blocked two shots.SCC returns to action Saturday, hosting Marshalltown in a 7 p.m. ICCAC game.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1673807823932.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Southeastern Community College's Jack Wetzel (5) takes the ball down the court. Photo/John Lovretta

Indian Hills rally sinks Blackhawks

Above: J.J. Martin goes in for an easy layup against a Fort Madison High School player in Burlington High School's Southeast Conference boys basketball game on the road Friday night. Martin made five steals and turned three into fast-break layups as the Grayhounds beat the Bloodhounds 63-46. Martin finished with 13 points. The Grayhounds host Muscatine next Tuesday. Photo/Chris Faulkner

&nbsp;J.J. Martin likes to gamble, on defense that is.

Martin made several gambles Friday night for Burlington High School's boys basketball team and the effort paid off. His five steals — including three for breakaway lay-ups in the third quarter — and 13 points were part of the reason for the Grayhounds' 63-46 victory over Fort Madison High School in a Southeast Conference contest.

The Grayhounds improve to 10-3 overall, and 4-1 in the league. They're a half-game behind leader Mount Pleasant, which beat Fairfield 57-48 Friday. BHS' game with Keokuk on Jan. 6 was postponed until Jan. 24.

The battle of the Hounds was even in the first half, with the Grayhounds holding a slim 23-22 lead over the Bloodhounds at halftime.

To start the third, Fort Madison took a 28-27 lead. But then Burlington's defense clamped down and the Grayhounds finished out the quarter with a 14-1 run. Martin had back-to-back steals that led to baskets early in that stretch and scored the basket that closed out the period.

“I gamble a lot on my steals,” Martin said. “I'll go run out there and test (the ball handler). Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't. Tonight was one of my nights where I could read them good, poke that ball and get those steals for a lay-up.

“You've got to read the offensive player's eyes.”

Fort Madison made a little headway in the fourth and trailed just 43-36.

But Burlington made some more stops and pulled away for the victory.

“We kind of got a little more aggressive in our zone and our man-to-man, looking to get some traps in the passing lanes,” BHS coach Caleb Akey said of the key to his team pulling away after halftime.

“It was just more effort,” Akey said.

“I talk to the kids all the time, sometimes you're not going to score very well. To Fort Madison's credit – to our discredit, whatever the reason was — we weren't scoring,”

So, Akey said of his players, “They dug deep defensively. We had to get some stops, get some run-outs, and away we went.”

Although the first half was nip-and-tuck, Martin said Burlington was playing well defensively in the beginning, “denying everything” as well as scrambling for the ball after partial steals.

“Fifty-fifty balls, that's a big part of our game,” Martin said. “Get all the 50-50 balls, get on the ground. We're from Burlington; we're scrappy.”

Burlington's Merquiche Lewis was held to just eight points in the first half on 4 of 12 shooting. But he came out stronger in the second half. Lewis shot 7 of 9 from the field and had a 3-pointer and two three-point plays in the final quarter to finish with a game-high 25 points.

“You want other guys to contribute, but it's no secret, 'Quiche is our best player,” Akey said.

“He needs to step up and own that responsibility, and in the first half he didn't.

“He got a little frustrated, got a little pouty, and that second half he regrouped and decided to play. You saw what happens when he decides to play,” Akey said.

Bryson Tate added 10 points for Burlington. Nehemiah Lewis put in seven points and led both teams with 11 rebounds. Mateo Rascon had four points, and Christos Kantzavelos and Xzavion Baker added two points each.

The Grayhounds made just three turnovers in the second half.

They also shot 25 of 52 from the field and 12 of 15 from the free-throw line.

Boeding led the Bloodhounds with 13 points. Julian Dear scored eight, Hunter Cresswell and Aidan Boyer put in seven points each, and Rashid added six points. Dayton Lamar added three points and Nolan Guzman two.

BHS hosts Muscatine next Tuesday in a non-conference game.

Fort Madison drops to 3-7 and 1-5 and hosts crosstown rival Holy Trinity Catholic Saturday in a girl-boy doubleheader.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1673724307932.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: J.J. Martin goes in for an easy layup against a Fort Madison High School player in Burlington High School's Southeast Conference boys basketball game on the road Friday night. Martin made five steals and turned three into fast-break layups as the Grayhounds beat the Bloodhounds 63-46. Martin finished with 13 points. The Grayhounds host Muscatine next Tuesday. Photo/Chris FaulknerBy Chris Faulkner&nbsp;J.J. Martin likes to gamble, on defense that is.Martin made several gambles Friday night for Burlington High School's boys basketball team and the effort paid off. His five steals — including three for breakaway lay-ups in the third quarter — and 13 points were part of the reason for the Grayhounds' 63-46 victory over Fort Madison High School in a Southeast Conference contest.The Grayhounds improve to 10-3 overall, and 4-1 in the league. They're a half-game behind leader Mount Pleasant, which beat Fairfield 57-48 Friday. BHS' game with Keokuk on Jan. 6 was postponed until Jan. 24.The battle of the Hounds was even in the first half, with the Grayhounds holding a slim 23-22 lead over the Bloodhounds at halftime.To start the third, Fort Madison took a 28-27 lead. But then Burlington's defense clamped down and the Grayhounds finished out the quarter with a 14-1 run. Martin had back-to-back steals that led to baskets early in that stretch and scored the basket that closed out the period.“I gamble a lot on my steals,” Martin said. “I'll go run out there and test (the ball handler). Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't. Tonight was one of my nights where I could read them good, poke that ball and get those steals for a lay-up.“You've got to read the offensive player's eyes.”Fort Madison made a little headway in the fourth and trailed just 43-36.But Burlington made some more stops and pulled away for the victory.“We kind of got a little more aggressive in our zone and our man-to-man, looking to get some traps in the passing lanes,” BHS coach Caleb Akey said of the key to his team pulling away after halftime.“It was just more effort,” Akey said.“I talk to the kids all the time, sometimes you're not going to score very well. To Fort Madison's credit – to our discredit, whatever the reason was — we weren't scoring,”So, Akey said of his players, “They dug deep defensively. We had to get some stops, get some run-outs, and away we went.”Although the first half was nip-and-tuck, Martin said Burlington was playing well defensively in the beginning, “denying everything” as well as scrambling for the ball after partial steals.“Fifty-fifty balls, that's a big part of our game,” Martin said. “Get all the 50-50 balls, get on the ground. We're from Burlington; we're scrappy.”Burlington's Merquiche Lewis was held to just eight points in the first half on 4 of 12 shooting. But he came out stronger in the second half. Lewis shot 7 of 9 from the field and had a 3-pointer and two three-point plays in the final quarter to finish with a game-high 25 points.“You want other guys to contribute, but it's no secret, 'Quiche is our best player,” Akey said.“He needs to step up and own that responsibility, and in the first half he didn't.“He got a little frustrated, got a little pouty, and that second half he regrouped and decided to play. You saw what happens when he decides to play,” Akey said.Bryson Tate added 10 points for Burlington. Nehemiah Lewis put in seven points and led both teams with 11 rebounds. Mateo Rascon had four points, and Christos Kantzavelos and Xzavion Baker added two points each.The Grayhounds made just three turnovers in the second half.They also shot 25 of 52 from the field and 12 of 15 from the free-throw line.Boeding led the Bloodhounds with 13 points. Julian Dear scored eight, Hunter Cresswell and Aidan Boyer put in seven points each, and Rashid added six points. Dayton Lamar added three points and Nolan Guzman two.BHS hosts Muscatine next Tuesday in a non-conference game.Fort Madison drops to 3-7 and 1-5 and hosts crosstown rival Holy Trinity Catholic Saturday in a girl-boy doubleheader.

Martin's Gambles Pay Off in Grayhounds' Win

Above: Burlington High School's Mylee Stiefel (10) drives to the basket during their home game against Fort Madison High School on Friday, (Jan. 13) at Burlington High School.&nbsp; Photo/John Lovretta By Joe Geren

The way to beat Fort Madison High School’s girls basketball team may be to stop senior guard/forward Camille Kruse, but that could be wishful thinking.

Burlington’s Grayhounds learned that Friday night.

Kruse poured in 26 points to lead the Bloodhounds to a 46-28 Southeast Conference victory in Carl Johannsen Gymnasium. Fort Madison (9-3, 5-1) maintained its grip on first place in the conference.

“We did have a hard time stopping her,” BHS head coach Deedee Warner said. “That was the key to our whole pregame, to shut her down, but we missed some assignments and just couldn’t hang with her tonight. We’re going to work on it.”

Kruse sank 10 field goals, five from 3-point range, and she was 1-for-2 at the free throw line. She averages 18.8 points a game.

&nbsp;Fort Madison never trailed. Kruse opened the scoring with two consecutive 3-pointer, and the Bloodhounds gradually increased the margin for three quarters. They led 14-3, 23-5, and 37-7 at the first three-quarter breaks.

&nbsp;The Grayhounds owned the final eight minutes, outscoring Fort Madison 19-9. BHS had a nine-point run to finish the game.

Above:&nbsp;Burlington High School's Daphne Brown (20) battles for the ball. Photo/John Lovretta

Burlington struggled to score in the first three quarters. “I don’t know what’s going on with that,” Warner said. “We look good (shooting) in practice, but we get out here in a game and just lose our focus. I’m just going to keep working on the girls and tell them to stop playing east and west and play north and south. That’s our problem right now, and turnovers kill us. We beat ourselves.”

Halle Menke scored 12 points for Fort Madison, and Taylor Johnson added six. Lilly Bartels led Burlington with nine points, and Mylee Stiefel scored seven, all in the fourth quarter. Ella Schroeder scored five, Emma Roher had three, and Saydee Plummer added two points.

Above: Burlington High School's Mylee Stiefel (10) shoots the ball during their home game against Fort Madison High School. Photo/John Lovretta

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1673670780655.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Burlington High School's Mylee Stiefel (10) drives to the basket during their home game against Fort Madison High School on Friday, (Jan. 13) at Burlington High School.&nbsp; Photo/John Lovretta By Joe GerenThe way to beat Fort Madison High School’s girls basketball team may be to stop senior guard/forward Camille Kruse, but that could be wishful thinking.Burlington’s Grayhounds learned that Friday night.Kruse poured in 26 points to lead the Bloodhounds to a 46-28 Southeast Conference victory in Carl Johannsen Gymnasium. Fort Madison (9-3, 5-1) maintained its grip on first place in the conference.“We did have a hard time stopping her,” BHS head coach Deedee Warner said. “That was the key to our whole pregame, to shut her down, but we missed some assignments and just couldn’t hang with her tonight. We’re going to work on it.”Kruse sank 10 field goals, five from 3-point range, and she was 1-for-2 at the free throw line. She averages 18.8 points a game.&nbsp;Fort Madison never trailed. Kruse opened the scoring with two consecutive 3-pointer, and the Bloodhounds gradually increased the margin for three quarters. They led 14-3, 23-5, and 37-7 at the first three-quarter breaks.&nbsp;The Grayhounds owned the final eight minutes, outscoring Fort Madison 19-9. BHS had a nine-point run to finish the game.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1673671030276.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Burlington High School's Daphne Brown (20) battles for the ball. Photo/John LovrettaBurlington struggled to score in the first three quarters. “I don’t know what’s going on with that,” Warner said. “We look good (shooting) in practice, but we get out here in a game and just lose our focus. I’m just going to keep working on the girls and tell them to stop playing east and west and play north and south. That’s our problem right now, and turnovers kill us. We beat ourselves.”Halle Menke scored 12 points for Fort Madison, and Taylor Johnson added six. Lilly Bartels led Burlington with nine points, and Mylee Stiefel scored seven, all in the fourth quarter. Ella Schroeder scored five, Emma Roher had three, and Saydee Plummer added two points.Burlington fell to 2-7 (0-5).<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1673671203847.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Burlington High School's Mylee Stiefel (10) shoots the ball during their home game against Fort Madison High School. Photo/John Lovretta

Grayhound Girls Fall to Bloodhounds

Above: Burlington High School's JJ Martin (0) puts up a shot on Monday, Jan. 9, during their game against Ottumwa High School at BHS. The Grayhounds ended their losing streak of two games with a non-conference win over Ottumwa. See the Jan. 13 print edition of The Beacon for the full story.&nbsp;

Above: Burlington High School's Mateo Rascon (10) shoots the ball during their game against Ottumwa.

Above:&nbsp;Burlington High School's Merquiche Lewis Jr. (21) puts up a shot.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1673394553115.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Photos by John Lovretta&nbsp; Above: Burlington High School's JJ Martin (0) puts up a shot on Monday, Jan. 9, during their game against Ottumwa High School at BHS. The Grayhounds ended their losing streak of two games with a non-conference win over Ottumwa. See the Jan. 13 print edition of The Beacon for the full story.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1673394699775.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Burlington High School's Mateo Rascon (10) shoots the ball during their game against Ottumwa.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1673394815436.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Burlington High School's Merquiche Lewis Jr. (21) puts up a shot.

BHS Boys End Two-Game Losing Streak

Above: Southeastern Community College's Jaylen Searles (2) drives to the basket during their game against John Wood Community College, Saturday,&nbsp; Jan.7,&nbsp; at SCC's Loren Walker Arena in West Burlington. Photo/John Lovretta&nbsp; Beacon Sports A big second half carried Southeastern Community College to a 73-58 victory over John Wood in a men’s basketball game at Loren Walker Arena Saturday afternoon. The Blackhawks preserved the victory with a 40-30 run in the second half. It was SCC’s ninth straight win. ohn Wood tied the score at 14-14, 16-16, and 19-19 in the first half, then freshman guard Joshua Talton’s layup with eight minutes left before intermission gave the Blazers a 21-20 edge. A dunk by Jaylen Searles returned the lead to SCC.

Above:&nbsp;Southeastern Community College's Ja'Son Kemp (23) puts up a shot during their game against John Wood Community College. Photo/John Lovretta

The Blackhawks wouldn’t trail again, although John Wood would tie the score once more at 26-all. SCC’s Deng Deang countered with a 15-foot jump shot from the side and Davion Bailey swished a 3-pointer to give the Blackhawks a 33-28 lead at halftime. John Wood would get no closer. Searles led SCC with 19 points, including four dunks and a 3-pointer. Bailey had 16 points with three treys and Railer Vargas added 10 points. Jeremiah Talton led the Blazers with 19 points and Jenson Whiteman scored eight. SCC (15-3) hosts Harry S. Truman College (1-17) at 6 p.m. Tuesday. John Wood fell to 9-8.

Above: Southeastern Community College's head coach Lorenzo Watkins questions a call by a referee during their game against John Wood Community College.&nbsp;Photo/John Lovretta

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1673155623065.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Southeastern Community College's Jaylen Searles (2) drives to the basket during their game against John Wood Community College, Saturday,&nbsp; Jan.7,&nbsp; at SCC's Loren Walker Arena in West Burlington. Photo/John Lovretta&nbsp; Beacon Sports A big second half carried Southeastern Community College to a 73-58 victory over John Wood in a men’s basketball game at Loren Walker Arena Saturday afternoon. The Blackhawks preserved the victory with a 40-30 run in the second half. It was SCC’s ninth straight win. ohn Wood tied the score at 14-14, 16-16, and 19-19 in the first half, then freshman guard Joshua Talton’s layup with eight minutes left before intermission gave the Blazers a 21-20 edge. A dunk by Jaylen Searles returned the lead to SCC.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1673155791222.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Southeastern Community College's Ja'Son Kemp (23) puts up a shot during their game against John Wood Community College. Photo/John LovrettaThe Blackhawks wouldn’t trail again, although John Wood would tie the score once more at 26-all. SCC’s Deng Deang countered with a 15-foot jump shot from the side and Davion Bailey swished a 3-pointer to give the Blackhawks a 33-28 lead at halftime. John Wood would get no closer. Searles led SCC with 19 points, including four dunks and a 3-pointer. Bailey had 16 points with three treys and Railer Vargas added 10 points. Jeremiah Talton led the Blazers with 19 points and Jenson Whiteman scored eight. SCC (15-3) hosts Harry S. Truman College (1-17) at 6 p.m. Tuesday. John Wood fell to 9-8.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1673155897017.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Southeastern Community College's head coach Lorenzo Watkins questions a call by a referee during their game against John Wood Community College.&nbsp;Photo/John Lovretta

Big second half carries SCC

Above:&nbsp;Mediapolis junior Hanna Wagenbach (32) drives the baseline against Van Buren County’s Callie Kracht in a South Division game Friday at Mediapolis. Wagenbach scored 15 points in the Bullettes’ 73-27 win.&nbsp;Photo/Joe Geren

Mediapolis High School swept a girls/boys basketball doubleheader from Van Buren County on the Vernon “Bud” McLearn Court in Mediapolis Friday night.

The Mepo girls never trailed, coasting to a 73-27 South Division win. The Mediapolis boys, however, had a rougher night. They squandered a 20-point lead but survived with a 63-58 win.

Five Mediapolis girls scored in double figures. Payton Bush led the Bullettes with 16 points and Hanna Wagenbach was right behind with 15 tallies. Lilly Luttenegger scored 12, Grace Holsteen had 11 and Liz Lane added 10.

&nbsp;The Bullettes scored the first 16 points of the game. Van Buren County finally got on the scoreboard with a Callie Kracht layup with 4:39 remaining in the first quarter.&nbsp; Mediapolis led at 19-6, 36-16, and 55-20 at the first three-quarter breaks.

The Mediapolis girls improved to 8-1 overall and 6-1 in the South Division, tied for first place with Notre Dame and West Burlington. Van Buren County is 2-7 (1-7).

&nbsp;In the boys' game, Van Buren County led 3-0 on Izaak Loeffler’s 3-point play, but the Bulldogs reeled off the next 17 points. Mediapolis led 20-9 at the first quarter break and 35-17 at halftime. The Bulldogs twice led by 20 points.

&nbsp;The second half, however, belonged to Van Buren County. Trailing 37-17 early in the third quarter, the Warriors fashioned a 19-point run to pull to within a point at 36-37. The Warriors converted four steals into field goals during that run.

Mediapolis managed a 47-42 lead by the end of the third quarter, but the Warriors weren’t done. They tied the score at 49-all and 51-all in the final period, but the Bulldogs gradually pulled away.

Mediapolis improved to 5-4 (3-4 South). Van Buren County is 3-6 (2-5).

Loeffler led all scorers with 24 points and Jackson Manning added 14 for the Warriors. Max Griffin came off the Mediapolis bench to lead the Bulldogs with 15 points. Ben Egan scored 14, Cole Lipper and Jackson Hutcheson both had eight points and Kamden Stotlar added seven.

Both Mediapolis teams host Winfield-Mount Union Monday and Central Lee on Tuesday.

Above:&nbsp;Mediapolis senior forward Cole Lipper (5) battles Van Buren County’s Izaak Loeffler for position under the basket in a South Division game at Mediapolis Friday night. Mediapolis held on for a 63-58 win. Photo/Joe Geren

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1673115023334.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Mediapolis junior Hanna Wagenbach (32) drives the baseline against Van Buren County’s Callie Kracht in a South Division game Friday at Mediapolis. Wagenbach scored 15 points in the Bullettes’ 73-27 win.&nbsp;Photo/Joe GerenBeacon SportsMediapolis High School swept a girls/boys basketball doubleheader from Van Buren County on the Vernon “Bud” McLearn Court in Mediapolis Friday night.The Mepo girls never trailed, coasting to a 73-27 South Division win. The Mediapolis boys, however, had a rougher night. They squandered a 20-point lead but survived with a 63-58 win.Five Mediapolis girls scored in double figures. Payton Bush led the Bullettes with 16 points and Hanna Wagenbach was right behind with 15 tallies. Lilly Luttenegger scored 12, Grace Holsteen had 11 and Liz Lane added 10.&nbsp;The Bullettes scored the first 16 points of the game. Van Buren County finally got on the scoreboard with a Callie Kracht layup with 4:39 remaining in the first quarter.&nbsp; Mediapolis led at 19-6, 36-16, and 55-20 at the first three-quarter breaks.The Mediapolis girls improved to 8-1 overall and 6-1 in the South Division, tied for first place with Notre Dame and West Burlington. Van Buren County is 2-7 (1-7).&nbsp;In the boys' game, Van Buren County led 3-0 on Izaak Loeffler’s 3-point play, but the Bulldogs reeled off the next 17 points. Mediapolis led 20-9 at the first quarter break and 35-17 at halftime. The Bulldogs twice led by 20 points.&nbsp;The second half, however, belonged to Van Buren County. Trailing 37-17 early in the third quarter, the Warriors fashioned a 19-point run to pull to within a point at 36-37. The Warriors converted four steals into field goals during that run.Mediapolis managed a 47-42 lead by the end of the third quarter, but the Warriors weren’t done. They tied the score at 49-all and 51-all in the final period, but the Bulldogs gradually pulled away.Mediapolis improved to 5-4 (3-4 South). Van Buren County is 3-6 (2-5).Loeffler led all scorers with 24 points and Jackson Manning added 14 for the Warriors. Max Griffin came off the Mediapolis bench to lead the Bulldogs with 15 points. Ben Egan scored 14, Cole Lipper and Jackson Hutcheson both had eight points and Kamden Stotlar added seven.Both Mediapolis teams host Winfield-Mount Union Monday and Central Lee on Tuesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1673115121222.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Mediapolis senior forward Cole Lipper (5) battles Van Buren County’s Izaak Loeffler for position under the basket in a South Division game at Mediapolis Friday night. Mediapolis held on for a 63-58 win. Photo/Joe Geren

Mediapolis sweeps Van Buren County

Above: Nate Pace, manager of both the Blaul and Churchill Lofts, talks about commercial space in the Churchill Lofts building at 116 N. Fifth St. in downtown Burlington. The downtown Burlington apartment complex is open for business.&nbsp;Photo/John Lovretta

The Churchill Loft’s 48-unit apartment complex at 100 N. Fourth St. (the corner of Fourth and Valley Street) is finally open for business — and the market-rate apartments are going fast.

The building houses 15 one-bedroom units varying in size from 674 to 1,140 square feet. Price-wise, the apartments range from $850 to $1,100 per month.

There are 30 two-bedrooms ranging from 867 to 1,685 square feet and priced from $1,160 to $1,550 per month. There are three, 1,560-square-foot three-bedrooms for $1,625 per month.

Each unit has a spacious bathroom, some with double sinks, and an open floor concept with high ceilings.

The Churchill Lofts also sports a first-floor commercial space consisting of four units, including the space formerly occupied by Mr. Moto’s Public House, which is nearly finished.

Above: The kitchen of an apartment in Churchill Lofts is shown. Photo/John Lovretta

The first floor is equipped with a recreation area, giving tenants access to the fitness center at Blaul Lofts at 425 Valley St. Y &amp; J Properties recently finished converting the building into 38 apartment units, with a ground-floor commercial space currently occupied by Lynne’s Food Cravings and Parties Unlimited.

The Churchill building was constructed in 1907 and housed a factory before serving as the home of Churchill Drug Co. until 1928. Kevin Bangert, who owned Moto’s, sold the building to Y&amp;J in 2018.

The Ebert building was constructed in 1900 as a wagon factory and blacksmith shop by John H. Ebert &amp; Sons, which changed its name to Ebert Supply Co. in 1950. Ewinger Supply Co. purchased the building in 1957, and the building was used as storage until Ewinger sold it to Burlington Trading Co.

The developers have worked to restore or keep as many of the building’s original components as possible. That includes retaining the large wood columns and rafters, as well as 277 windows that were restored.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1675180296792.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: Nate Pace, manager of both the Blaul and Churchill Lofts, talks about commercial space in the Churchill Lofts building at 116 N. Fifth St. in downtown Burlington. The downtown Burlington apartment complex is open for business.&nbsp;Photo/John LovrettaBy William SmithThe Churchill Loft’s 48-unit apartment complex at 100 N. Fourth St. (the corner of Fourth and Valley Street) is finally open for business — and the market-rate apartments are going fast.The building houses 15 one-bedroom units varying in size from 674 to 1,140 square feet. Price-wise, the apartments range from $850 to $1,100 per month.There are 30 two-bedrooms ranging from 867 to 1,685 square feet and priced from $1,160 to $1,550 per month. There are three, 1,560-square-foot three-bedrooms for $1,625 per month.Each unit has a spacious bathroom, some with double sinks, and an open floor concept with high ceilings.The Churchill Lofts also sports a first-floor commercial space consisting of four units, including the space formerly occupied by Mr. Moto’s Public House, which is nearly finished.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1675180499745.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above: The kitchen of an apartment in Churchill Lofts is shown. Photo/John LovrettaThe first floor is equipped with a recreation area, giving tenants access to the fitness center at Blaul Lofts at 425 Valley St. Y &amp; J Properties recently finished converting the building into 38 apartment units, with a ground-floor commercial space currently occupied by Lynne’s Food Cravings and Parties Unlimited.The Churchill building was constructed in 1907 and housed a factory before serving as the home of Churchill Drug Co. until 1928. Kevin Bangert, who owned Moto’s, sold the building to Y&amp;J in 2018.The Ebert building was constructed in 1900 as a wagon factory and blacksmith shop by John H. Ebert &amp; Sons, which changed its name to Ebert Supply Co. in 1950. Ewinger Supply Co. purchased the building in 1957, and the building was used as storage until Ewinger sold it to Burlington Trading Co.The developers have worked to restore or keep as many of the building’s original components as possible. That includes retaining the large wood columns and rafters, as well as 277 windows that were restored.The units themselves include stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops, an in-unit washer/dryer, historic windows, natural sunlight, hardwood floors, large bedrooms with closet space, a private parking lot, and open floor plans made for hosting friends and family,Pets AllowedOne of the big selling points of the apartments is the pet-friendly rules. The grassy area between the Ebert and Churchill buildings will be transformed into a community green space where families can bring their pets, and those pets are allowed in the apartments as well.Property manager Nate Pace said Churchill Lofts is equipped with security cameras accessible via key fobs. It was one of the most requested features – that and the pets.“This is a big town for pets,” Pace said.Fit on FifthIn addition to the Churchill Lofts, Pace has also opened a new gym – Fit on Fifth. The boutique gym is free to tenants of the loft, and gym memberships for the general public are $28 per month. First responders, as well as members of the police, fire department, and corrections can get a membership for $30 every three months. Military veterans and those currently serving can use the gym for free.The gym sports a unique look that consists of exposed brick and old wooden beams and includes free weights, a personal trainer, Matrix exercise machines, a Smith machine, two cable crossover machines, Muay Thai instruction, and heavy bags. The gym is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily and is located at 104 N. Fifth St.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/1/1675180573025.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Above:&nbsp;Fit on Fifth, a gym located in the Blaul Loft building, in downtown Burlington. Photo/John Lovretta

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