By Mark Schafer | The News-Review
KEOTA – For over a decade the end result was almost a foregone conclusion.
When the Keota girls played the Sigourney girls in basketball, the Sigourney girls were going to win.
And they did for 11 years. From January 2015-December 2025, a grand total of 22 games were played between Sigourney and Keota in girls basketball. All of that changed on Dec. 12 when the Keota girls were able to grab a 66-52 victory over Sigourney.
Keota and Sigourney had played each other close throughout the first half of the game. At the break Keota was able to hold a slight lead, 35-20.
In the second half, that’s when the Eagles started to spread their wings. Keota scored 21 points in the third quarter and added another 10 points in the final frame. Sigourney battled back, scoring 32 total points in the second half, but Keota was able to hold onto the lead.
“I am happy for the girls. It has been a long time,” Keota Head Girls Basketball Coach, Jeff Sprouse said. “This has been a huge mental block, because Sigourney always plays us tough. We were able to play one of our best games. It feels good to get the win, and I’m not going to lie, it has been a long time coming.”
Emily Conger and Jessalyn Aller were both able to score 16 total points in the victory. Cameron Haifley would score 14 points. Karley Greiner added 10 points. Another seven points came from Kennedy Jackson. Dakota Dodd would score three points.
Not only did the win help Keota reverse recent history with the Savages it also helped the Eagles start off the season 6-0. The momentum from the win didn’t carry over through the rest of the month as Keota would fall in three-straight contests to end the month.
Photos by Mark Schafer
