Sunday, February 22, 2015

Susan Tucker Sworn In to WCCC Board

Susan (Gladstone) Tucker was sworn into the WCCC board at their regular meeting Wednesday, filling the Middlefork (Worth) spot. Jim Larson is running unopposed for the vacant West Fletchall seat and Jeff Thummel is running unopposed for the West Union seat. Following the April election, the WCCC will have a full board again.

The facility made an $11,000 profit despite the three pay period month. The current census is down to 20 residents. There were issues with the boiler and the fire alarm. There were six outpatient customers with workman's comp issues.

The WCCC will be holding its March Spring Fling on March 19th. There are currently three rooms left in the Renovation Project and work has begun on the west shower room. Administrator Bev Miller said that she was working on a newsletter and possible surveys for the community. An Easter Egg Hunt will be held on April 4th. Future work on the facility includes updating the electrical system.

The board approved a proposal by Secretary Victoria Rush and assistant Jozy Moyer to go to paperless technology for bills and payroll. They said that it would be simpler for bookkeeping purposes. Board President Mike Hall would still review the expenses like he currently does. Paper checks cost the facility $257 for every 5,000 that they order. It would mean that Rush would not have to drive to Allendale, where Hall's shop is, to deliver checks and Hall would not have to take time off work to come and look at checks. Board members said that security would be tighter with the paperless technology than it is with the current manual system.

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Dallis Coffelt, Garet Jackson are 2015 NEN Homecoming Royalty

Garet Jackson was named NEN Homecoming King and Dallis Coffelt was named Queen Thursday night in ceremonies leading up to the DeKalb game Friday. The other senior candidate was Kaysie Wiederholt. The other junior candidate was Korey Adwell. Sophomore candidates were Dalton Auffert and Vanessa Riley. Freshman candidates were Brayden Welch and Taylor Coffelt. Named as Prince and Princess were Dakota Gross and Jaysie Dougan. Other Junior High candidates were Chance Barber and Brea Miller. Royalty was selected by a vote of students and teachers.

The theme for this year was "Let's Get Tropical." The Northeast Nodaway Band performed before the show. They are directed by PK-12 Music Teacher Amanda Sutton. Members this year are Brittany Moran, Brittany Burns, Gerry Runde, Vanessa Riley, Nathan Schieber, Colton Wilmes, Tanner Wilcox, Andrew Freemyer, Shelby Brandt, Dakota Auffert, Rory Bredlow, Maggie Schmitz, and Chet Spire.

The cheerleaders led the crowd in some cheers. They are Shelby Linville, Shelby Brandt, Brianna Riley, Allie Runde, Mikeala McCoy, and Tori Titus. They are directed by Katie Jenkins.

The 'Lil Cheerleaders, grades 1 through 4, performed two routines and led the crowd in some more cheers. They are Jayln Burns, Skyler Florea, Josie Giesken, Jansen Hawkins, Ainsley Hoblitzel, Nevaeh Jacoby, Gracie Kohlleppel, Kayla Rucker, Mylee Wilmes, Baylie Busby, Sasha Deardorff, Hadley DeFreece, Lindsey Jackson, Frannie Perkins, Makenzie Pride, Blair Allen, Dalanie Auffert, Jill Boswell, Courtney Faustlin, Paiton Hillyard, Aubrey Munns, Sabreena Parker, Kaylee Pederson, Tessa Privett, Meredith Adwell, Jaden Atkins, Lily Burns, Kenna Coulter, Emma Kohlleppel, Lauren McIntyre, Morgan Trimble, and Ruby Wilmes.

The Student Council presented various spirit games and awarded a Spirit Stick following the presentation of the floats. It was a very close race this year between the 8th graders and the Juniors, but the 8th graders won by one vote. Bonnie Baldwin was named Fan of the Year. Max Giesken won the musical chairs competition.

The girls had every expectation of winning their matchup with DeKalb as they had already beaten the Tigers once this year. However, Friday night's matchup was one of those nights in which everything was going in and out for Northeast. They didn't do themselves any favors at the free throw line in the first half, going three for 12 in that frame. It was a good defensive struggle until the last 33 seconds of the third quarter; nobody was able to take a lead of more than two possessions. Finally, Northeast had a meltdown, giving up 11 points in the last 33 seconds to go from being down two to down 13 at 32-19. They could not make up the difference in the fourth quarter as they fell 45-30.

Dallis Coffelt led the scoring with 12 points for Northeast. Jill Spire had seven and one 3-pointer. Talina Nelson had four, Brianna Riley and Taylor Coffelt had three each, and Vanessa Riley had one.

The boys were too stagnant on offense and could not buy a board on defense against DeKalb as they lost 61-29 to the Tigers. Max Giesken did all he could for Northeast, trying to provide a presence in the middle with three blocks in the first period. But DeKalb steadily pulled away, leading 12-6 after one quarter and 29-14 at the half. Garet Jackson added two blocks in the half. The Tigers used an 18 point third quarter to establish a 22-point lead, 47-25 after three and triggered the running clock in the fourth.

Max Giesken had 15 to lead Northeast. Dylan Mildfeldt followed with five; Garet Jackson, Eli Scroggie, and Andrew Freemyer all had three. Rowdy West took a charge on defense.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Tiger Teams Continue Futility at South Harrison

Worth County continued its 35-year record of futility at South Harrison as the boys lost 52-45 in Bethany and the girls fell to the running clock. The boys have only won there two times in 35 years; the 1993-94 team that won the GRC Title won there. The 2006-2007 team that won 19 games and finished second at the Bethany districts in Class 2 lost at Bethany during the regular season but got a second chance thanks to the district placement and beat South Harrison in its second try.

The Tigers had every expectation of breaking that cycle since South Harrison had only won one game so far this year. But South Harrison looked nothing like a one-win team and Worth County continued its pattern of letting players run wild on them. The Tigers led a back and fourth struggle at the break; they led by as much as four and trailed by as much as five before leading 17-16 at the break. But then they lost their composure in the third quarter as South Harrison put on a press and Worth County could not figure out how to break it until the Bulldogs had built up a nine point lead at one point.

Worth County fought back to come back to within 35-31 after three, and stayed within five early in the fourth at 39-34. But then some defensive lapses where nobody got back burned them as they fell behind by 11 again at 45-34. Worth County fought back two more times to within four and had one chance to make it one possession, but they gave up a layup off a steal. The Tigers, who only had been averaging seven assists for the season, nearly doubled that in Tuesday night's matchup, getting 13. They had been averaging 19 turnovers a game this year; they committed too many critical ones against South Harrison. Finally, they had to start fouling and South Harrison was able to complete the win at the line.

Josh Warner led the scoring with 16 for the Tigers. Mason Hawk, Drake Kinsella, and Cade Allee all had 8 points. Chris Alarcon had 3 and Ryan McClellan had 2. Free throws were a killer for Worth County as they were three for 12 from the line. The foul calls were almost even, but South Harrison made 11 out of 15, which accounted for the difference in the game. And nobody could guard Darin Williams, who was slashing to the basket and hitting jumpers with people all over him to lead South Harrison with 22 points.

Worth County's girls were playing shorthanded as they were playing without Sydney Thummel, who was in Jefferson City shadowing Rep. Allen Andrews. They will get Thummel back, but Kaitlyn Davidson was shaken up during the game and had to leave. She was in crutches at school the next day. In the meantime, the girls lost 58-22 as they did not have an answer for South Harrison's skyscrapers, who were rebounding the ball at will. The girls have had their record of futility in Bethany, including one time in which they were called for 10 seconds when South Harrison was not even pressing. The hacking and fouling that plagued Worth County against Princeton cost them; South Harrison went to the line 27 times and made 17 free throws; Worth County was 1 for 5 from the line. That accounted for almost half of Worth County's deficit. The officials treated the game as a foregone conclusion; they allowed a lot of rough play to go uncalled throughout the contest.

Kaitlyn Davidson led the Tigers with 7 points. Aubrey Ragan, pressed into extended playing time due to foul trouble and the Tigers being shorthanded, followed with 5. Sidney Troutwine had 4 and Rikky Hunt, Ally Buffington, and Payton Adwell had 2.

Monday, February 9, 2015

Worth County Sheriff's Report

2-2 -- Fort Dodge (IA) prison needs detainer withdrawn on prisoner.
2-2 -- Local business brings in lost billfold; owner notified.
2-2 -- Homeowner in to file theft report.
2-3 -- Resident in with statement.
2-3 -- Detective in Sioux Falls (SD) calls about recovered handgun.
2-4 -- Resident calls about car blocking street in Grant City.
2-4 -- Resident in to report fuel theft.
2-5 -- Person calls for road conditions.
2-5 -- Officer transporting inmate from Ringgold County Jail to Worth County for court.
2-5 -- Person in about accident in Grant City.
2-5 -- Officer transporting two prisoners to Ringgold County Jail.
2-5 -- Resident reports attempted breakin.
2-6 -- Person in for CCW permit.
2-6 -- 911 Ambulance call at Casey's; lady having seizures.
2-7 -- Report of deer parts on 169 Highway North.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Rikky Hunt, Aubrey Ragan are Unlikely Heroes in Victory Over Princeton

Worth County's girls had two unlikely heroes step up after a horrific rash of hacking and fouling in the second half almost derailed their game over Princeton as they held off a late charge by the Blue Tigers and won 38-35 Friday night. It was made even better by the fact that they were playing the second of back to back nights. Sydney Thummel had fouled out halfway through the fourth quarter and without her handling the ball, Worth County was rudderless as Princeton erased what had been a six point Worth County lead in the period and took a 32-31 lead with 2:04 left, wiping it out in a span of a little over two minutes. The foul differential in the half was 10-6 in Princeton's favor at one point.

Finally, Sidney Troutwine hit Payton Adwell on the left wing for a 3-pointer to stop the bleeding with 1:22 left and put Worth County back in front 34-32. Princeton then went through a stretch where they only hit one out of their next six free throws as Worth County hung by their fingernails despite continuing to hack and foul at every opportunity. Worth County could not buy a board on the defensive end against the Blue Tigers, who are a good offensive rebounding team. Finally, Worth County secured one and Princeton had to foul, sending Rikky Hunt to the line with 32.4 seconds left. She knocked down both tries to put Worth County in front 36-33. Hunt had not scored all night until the last minute of the game.

Paige Phillips struck back for Princeton, getting a putback to make it 36-35 with 17.6 seconds left, but Hunt got on the line again and hit one out of two to make it 37-35 with 15.8 seconds left. That left Princeton with a chance to tie or take the lead but Phillips, who had broken Northeast Nodaway's hearts in Bethany earlier in the year, could not do the same to Worth County. She had a good look at a potential game-winning 3-pointer, but it was long and Worth County freshman Aubrey Ragan, who was pressed into service thanks to three players fouling out, hit one out of two with 2.4 seconds left and Princeton only had a desperation heave from three quarters as time expired.

The win helped Worth County climb further out of the GRC cellar. They posted their second win in the conference after beating Albany for their Courtwarming; they won three out of four with the win despite playing with only eight players.

Worth County had led most of the way before the frantic fourth quarter. Sydney Thummel's cut inside and pass from Payton Adwell put Worth County up by their biggest lead of the night, 29-21 with 36 seconds left in the third. Thummel was carrying the team when she was not on the bench with foul trouble. They also led by eight at the start of the third, when Sidney Troutwine's shot from the top of the key with 7:22 left put them up 21-13. Worth County fended off a Princeton rally that brought them within two at one point before Worth County pulled back ahead.

Nobody led by more than 4 until Thummel took control of the game late in the first half. She broke a 12-12 tie in a tight defensive struggle with two free throws; she followed with a steal and 3-point play to make it 17-12 with 1:07 left in the half. Sidney Troutwine's shot from the left wing off a pass from Payton Adwell made it 19-12 before Maddie Enright's free throw made it 19-13 at the half. Much of Worth County's gameplan was focused on trying to stop Enright, who was a constant threat to drive to the basket much of the night.

Kaitlyn Davidson had 12 points and 21 boards, raising her career high in the rebounding chart. The school record is 25, held jointly by Charlea Lewis and Sue Steinhauser. She also added four blocks, including one in the last minute that would have put Princeton ahead. Sydney Thummel, despite playing with foul trouble most of the night, still had 7, as did Payton Adwell. Sidney Troutwine had 4 and Rikky Hunt had 3. Tess Andrews and Ally Buffington had 2 each and Aubrey Ragan had 1.

The boys lost 49-34 as they were no match for a Princeton squad who features five players who can dunk it; they have one player who is 6'8" and three others who are 6'4". They did a good job limiting Brant Faulkner, who had torched them in Worth County's previous two losses to Princeton this year. However, they could not stop Stephan Elliott, who was able to drive on Worth County all night despite his 6'8" frame and who carried the Blue Tigers. Cade Allee led with 9 points, Chris Alarcon, Josh Warner, and Mason Hawk had 6, Drake Kinsella had 5, and Ryan McClellan 2. Worth County dug itself into a 38-16 hole early in the third quarter before coming back and making a game of it. However, they could never get any closer than 10 early in the fourth before Princeton ran out the clock through most of the period.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Tiger Boys Ride Size Advantage to Victory Over Bobcats

Worth County's boys rode their size advantage to their 5th victory of the season, 52-32 over East Harrison. They have three players between 6'4" and 6'5" while East Harrison had only one player on its roster listed at 6'1", which turned into a big size advantage for Worth County. "We shot the ball much better than we did against Maysville," said Coach Bryce Schafer. Worth County shot 50% from the field and 57% from behind the arc, which he said was a product of much better ball movement than they had in the past. The Tigers still have work to do on defense if they are to get some more wins; even the best teams cannot count on that sort of shooting every single night. But they will take them however they can get them.

As has been the case for many of Worth County's games, Josh Warner scored 5 points right off the bat and that opened everything else. His relentless attacking of the rim forced the defense to focus on him and that opened up Cade Allee to score 7 points in the quarter. Chris Alarcon added 5 for Worth County. East Harrison tried to counter with Brian Reno getting to the rim, but after Worth County closed that off, they could not get anything else going consistently. Worth County took a 17-5 lead after one quarter; that was capped off when Drake Kinsella pushed it up the floor himself after grabbing a defensive board and getting it to Alarcon for the finish. It was something that the coaches have tried to get their players to do all year instead of hesitating after getting a defensive board trying to find an outlet, and they finally started doing it in Thursday's win.

Kinsella was not done as he scored two 3-pointers in the second quarter as the Tigers pulled away to a 28-10 halftime lead in a low-scoring frame. Cade Allee added 3 and Mason Hawk 2.

East Harrison tried to change the tempo of the game and press Worth County, but Worth County continued to pull away to a 43-18 lead after three. Josh Warner scored four in the period, including two in which he got loose against the Bobcat press. Cade Allee, who had been pushed to improve his defense all year, did so and added a block in the period. He had two in the quarter; he also had two against Albany. Ryan McClellan took a charge on defense in the third and took another in the fourth, following in the steps of his older brothers Zack and Alex Harmening, who were both known for energy, effort, and taking charges on defense.

Ryan McClellan added a 3-pointer on the offensive end and Wayde Parman came off the bench to add a free throw and an assist in the fourth period. Jared Simmons and Cade Allee had 2 each and Mason Hawk 1 in the frame.

Kaitlyn Davidson Hangs 30 on Bobcats as Tiger Girls Win 5th

Worth County's girls picked up their fifth win of the year, 53-35 over East Harrison as Kaitlyn Davidson picked up 30 points and 15 boards to lead the Tigers. It was her third game of 25 or more points as the Tigers took a big early lead, let the Bobcats back in the game at the break, and then pulled away in the second half to get the win.

The Tigers were down to eight players as they were without Alysa Lyle (knee) and Aubrey Staton (shoulder). The focus had to be to stay out of foul trouble. Similarly, East Harrison only dressed out eight players. The Bobcats tried to slow the Tigers down right off the bat, taking over a minute before getting the ball to Briley McClain for an open 3-pointer to put them in front. But then Worth County's press began causing problems for the Bobcats; they ran it as well as they have all year. Worth County sought to take away the inside game of post player Harlee Ellsworth, fronting her with Payton Adwell and chasing her around the court for much of the night. But she still got loose twice to keep them in the game in the first quarter. For Worth County, Kaitlyn Davidson had seven points, Sydney Thummel had 4, and Ally Buffington 2 as they led 13-9 after one quarter. East Harrison tried a press of their own, but Sydney Thummel drove right through it for two of her four points. Kaitlyn added a block in the period. Payton Adwell had 2 assists and Kaitlyn and Ally had one each.

Rikky Hunt had a career night with 10 points for the Tigers and she scored four quick points right off the bat to put Worth County up 17-9. She has been getting more and more aggressive getting to the rim, something that the team will count on her to do a lot of next year when four of their seniors graduate and she will have to step up. Kaitlyn continued to be a force on the boards despite going up against the taller East Harrison defenders; she collected 10 points in the second as Worth County pushed ahead to a 28-17 lead. But then Briley McClain got the hot hand, hitting her third 3-pointer of the half to put the Bobcats back in contention; she converted the four-point play on one to give East Harrison a lift going into halftime only down 28-23 after Kala Thompson hit a shot near the end of the second period. Sydney Thummel had a block in the period; both Sydney and Kaitlyn had an assist in the frame.

For Worth County to regain control, someone besides Kaitlyn had to step up and do the scoring and they had to limit McClain on defense. They succeeded on both counts; Sydney Thummel got a steal and cleaned up on a miss to jumpstart Worth County in the third; from there, the press worked as well as it has all year while Kaitlyn continued to remain a constant on the offensive end for Worth County. Rikky Hunt led the scoring with 6, while Davidson followed with 5 and Sydney Thummel had 3. Tess Andrews, Sydney Thummel, and Payton Adwell had assists in the period while Kaitlyn Davidson picked up her second block. East Harrison started getting into foul trouble in the period with Thompson picking up her fourth in the period. Worth County outscored East Harrison 14-3 to put the game out of reach, leading 42-26 after three.

Kaitlyn had 8 more in the fourth period to break the 30-point barrier for Worth County. Sidney Troutwine collected the other three for the Tigers; Ally Buffington had two assists in the period.