Sports

JeMae Nichols swished a three pointer and got the 20 points she needed to reach the 1,000-point mark here Saturday evening. Nichols’ 20, Lexi Pingel’s 18 points and Kenna Mongan’s 17 fueled Cherokee’s 80-46 win over OABCIG in Class 3A regional tourney action, and propel the Braves into tonight’s 7p.m. regional semi against MOC-FV’s Dutch, a 64-56 upset winner of Unity Christian. The Braves enter second round tourney play tonight ranked No. 11 in Class 3A...

SHELDON - Representing Cherokee at the state wrestling tournament will be talented freshman Brenden Fisch, who punched his ticket to state via a second place Class 2A district finish here last Saturday. Fisch, a 170-pounder, improved his record to 28-4 with a runner-up district effort and is just one of 16, 170-pounders in Class 2A to make the state tourney field. ...

Almost six months ago, way back in early September, River Valley’s Garrett Trapp was named our “Prep of the Week” selection for his football prowess. And, guess what? It’s no surprise to folks in these parts that the Wolverine junior also has “game” when it comes to the sports of basketball...

I could have stood the shackles if it wasn’t for the rattling of the chains… And so goes the Country song I’m reminded of at every Cherokee Braves basketball game I’ve attended the past few years. Parents and grandparents, caretakers, babysitters, guardians, school administrators, parole officers, do your jobs and tell the young kids at the ballgames to SIT THE HELL DOWN!!!...

MARCUS - “We are undefeated and conference champions,” exclaimed a jubilant MMCRU head girls’ basketball coach Gillian Letsche here Tuesday following her team’s 43-40 win over a tough and determined South O’Brien cage club. The last time a team from this school went unbeaten in regular season play was in 1986 as the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Eagles of coach Jerry Martin, some 34 years ago. Wow!...

Last weekend in sectional wrestling tournament competition, Cherokee and Ridge View advanced three, and Alta-Aurelia will send two grapplers into district tournemament matches this Saturday. Cherokee wrestlers Simon Mummert (106 lbs.), Carson Fuhrman (160 lbs.) and Brenden Fisch (170 lbs.) will represent the Braves in Class 2A District action at Sheldon beginning at noon Saturday...

Cherokee’s 6-7 senior Ryan Hurd joined an elite club here Thursday night. Hurd surpassed the 1,000-point career mark in a win over LeMars last Thursday and became only the seventh player in Cherokee school history to score 1,000 or more points in a prep career here...

The powers that be who rank Iowa prep girls’ basketball teams have once again put Cherokee’s Braves back into the rankings at No. 13 in Class 3A. Cherokee has been in and our to the state rankings numerous times in the 10 times the rankings have been posted this season...

“Senior Night” here Tuesday was sweet as candy for Cherokee’s basketball programs. Everybody won. Junior varsity and varsity Cherokee teams made it a “complete sweep” by winning all four games against the visiting Indians of Spirit Lake. Question: When was the last time that happened? Easy Answer: Too long ago...

South O’Brien senior Taryn Hintz answered the call. When two starters from last year’s SOS squad were unavailable due to injury and transfer, the question was, who’ll answer the call? The answer for SOS came quickly, Taryn Hintz. In three consecutive wins for SOS last week, Hintz scored 52 points, grabbed 28 rebounds, blocked five shots and picked off six steals for the 10-8 Wolverines...

We enjoyed reading a Sioux Falls Argus Leader story by Matt Zimmer on our very own Kaely Hummel as she enters her final weeks of her college basketball career at the University of Sioux Falls. Zimmer points out that Hummel is “on the short list of the best women’s basketball players to grace the Stewart Center floor.”...

Want a local twist to this weekend’s Super Bowl XVI? Okay, then don’t miss the Puppy Bowl XVI on Animal Planet, starring “Theodore,” a Pomsky (half Pomeranian, half Husky) puppy owned by Cherokee native Jackie Schmillen. That’s right. Theodore made the starting lineup for Sunday’s Puppy Bowl XVI and will represent “Team Fluff” in a battle with team “Ruff.”...

Consistency and confidence. That’s been the storyline of Cherokee cager Ryan Hurd this season. Lakes Conference stats show the talented 6-7 senior at the top of the list in scoring, assists, steals and rebounds. In three wins over Storm Lake (58-55), Alta-Aurelia (88-60) and East Sac (62-47), the senior pivot has scored a combined 62 points, grabbed 26 rebounds, dished 13 assists, with five steals and four blocked shots. Hurd’s body of work speaks for itself...

It was obvious early in both games here Thursday that Cherokee’s Braves had too many weapons. The result was a Cherokee clean sweep as the hosts cruised to a pair of one-sided wins over Alta-Aurelia’s Warriors. Cherokee gals, recently ranked 15th in Class 3A, played everyone on the bench throughout before logging their 11th win of the season, 76-19 over the lady Warriors. Then in the nightcap, it was all Cherokee in a 28-point, 88-60 win over AA cagers...

We obviously can’t compete with the blistering speed of which social media spits out information. However, just in case you still have a flip phone, permit us to share a few tidbids involving area athletes, prep and pro. —Former Ridge View prep Ezra Miller, once a prized recruit for the Iowa Hawkeyes and thought to be another in a long line of linemen for Iowa put into the NFL, has retired from football after a lone redshirt season due to nagging back problems...

MMCRU’s Cade Pepper wears No. 2 on his uniform. But perhaps Royals’ Coach Cam Kuchel should consider giving him the No. 1 jersey. Just saying. All the 5-9 junior guard did last week was put up 71 points in three games and deservingly earn our Chronicle Times “Prep of the Week” honors...

Nine seasons have come and gone since Cherokee’s boys’ basketball team has won nine games. In fact, the last time the Braves won nine or more games was the 2010-11 season when the team finished 10-11. Thursday night the Braves of 2029-20 won their ninth game against four losses in defeating East Sac 62-47. The monkey is off the Braves’ back as they take a five-game winning streak hosting Alta-Aurelia on Thursday and Storm Lake on Friday this week...

SIOUX CENTER - Balanced scoring and sound defense propelled Cherokee past Sioux Center here Tuesday 81-53, making it four in a row for the Braves, now 8-4 on the season. “We got out to another great start and that’s always huge on the road,” said Cherokee Coach Mark Hurd. “Our team ball was great and we moved the ball well and got good looks and shots.”...

A proud couple moments for button-busting Cherokee fans at the Tyson Events Center last Saturday. Two Cherokee senior student athletes, Kayden Waldner and Trevor Lundquist, were recognized as 2020 CNOS Foundation Basketball Classic “Tomorrow’s Leader Award” recipients...

Cherokee basketball teams were in complete control from start to finish in both games of a non-conference coed doubleheader here Tuesday with Manson NW Webster. Cherokee’s lady Braves improved to 7-3 with a 40-point margin of victory, 70-30, over the visiting Cougars of the Twin Lakes Conference, while the Braves cruised to a36-point margin of victory, 86-50, over the Cougars in the nightcap...

SPIRIT LAKE - Cherokee’s Class 3A, 15th ranked Braves put together a strong second half to overcome a 29-23 halftime deficit and pocket a 62-47 win over a taller Spirit Lake contingent last Friday. In the nightcap here, Cherokee’s boys were outscored 22-9 in the final quarter as the host Indians made it four in a row via a 61-53 win over the visiting Braves...

Most high school basketball teams in our state have played eight to 10 games to date, leaving some 12 games left before tournament competition begins. We all know how fast time goes. With that, we took a glimpse at statistics and witnessed some always interesting numbers...

Cherokee’s own Neil Phipps, a Hall of Fame football coach in our state, is always helpful in supplying this corner with positive messages always worth sharing. Near the west entrance to our Washington High School, Phipps has placed on the south wall a nicely framed, old football jersey, including a relevant message we all should take pause and read...

Iowa high school softball is better off today because Steve Ebert is involved. Make no mistake about it. Too bad we don’t have more like him. Ebert, a successful downtown Cherokee merchant, takes his position as a local high school softball umpire and football official very seriously and with a ton of passion...

Parker Wildeman is a born motivator. He had me doing sit ups during a telephone visit recently. Not really. The only sit ups I do these days is to the table. But anyone looking for some motivation would be wise to listen to Parker. He’s been self-motivated and driven his entire life. His body of work speaks for itself and now he remains in a familiar wheelhouse earning a living motivating clients...

END OF THE BENCH SHARING THE GOOD NEWS We love sharing success stories as it relates to our area. Here are three good ones. HANNAH LOCKIN Hannah Lockin, daughter of Aurelia born and raised Doug and Rhonda, now of Des Moines, is a member of the “Final Four” Baylor University volleyball Bears...

HULL - The second quarter wasn’t good for either Cherokee basketball team here last Friday night, proving to be a key factor in a coed doubleheader loss to host Hull-Western Christian ball clubs. In the opener, Cherokee’s girls were outscored 30-13 in the second frame and eventually fell victim to a good 5-2 Western contingent, 88-53, while Cherokee boys were outscored 17-8 in the second stanza and ended up on the short end of the stick, 72-58...

Cherokee’s wrestling Braves edged Sheldon/South O’Brien 186.5 to 186 in claiming the 2019 Paul Fuhrman Wrestling Invitational here Saturday. An happy and excited Cherokee head coach Austin Todd exclaimed, “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. ...

One senses a renewed confidence in the Cherokee boys’ basketball huddle. On Thursday night, senior talent Ryan Hurd scored 22 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out six assists to lead a confident Braves squad to a resounding 87-48 win over visiting Newell-Fonda...

END OF THE BENCH As I stare blankly at my computer monitor, it’s a bit blurry. You see, I’m just “scratching where it itches. These old brown eyes swell with real tears. It was something most of us couldn’t help when we heard the news. Funny, I weep for a man who didn’t know me from a load of Iowa hay. Ain’t that right, Hayden?...

In the first of three games this week, Cherokee cagers logged convincing wins over Eatherville-Lincoln Central teams here Tuesday evening. Cherokee teams played host to Newell-Fonda on Thursday and tonight travel to Hull Western Christian. In the coed doubleheader opener Tuesday, Cherokee’s lady Braves improved to 6-1 with a 86-68 win, while in the nightcap the Braves dominated E-LC on the way to a 67-25 victory to improve to 3-2...

“Hard worker, four-sport standout, team leader, excellent student - it goes on and on and on. Those aforementioned qualities are frequently used to describe MMCRU sophomore Taylor Harpenau, this week’s Chronicle-Times Prep of the Week. We talked to people who know. The comments were all good...

Three years ago I named then San Francisco 49er QB Colin Kaepernick the first recipient of my Rise Man Award following his refusal to rise for the National Anthem. Kaepernick willingly immersed himself into national controversy by refusing to stand for the playing of the National Anthem in protest of what he publicly deemed social and police oppression of African Americans and other minorities in the United States...

Freshman Kenna Mongan had missed four shots in a row until draining what turned out to be the winning three pointer in Cherokee’s upset 63-60 win over Class 3A, 10th ranked Unity Christian here last week. “Kenna was 0-4 until the last three pointer she hit with 15 seconds left to play,” said a happy Cherokee head coach Brandon Slaughter. “I believe in Kenna, that’s why I kept giving her the green light to shoot.”...

JeMae Nichols had the numbers. The talented Cherokee junior multi-sport talent scored 42 points last week, grabbed 19 rebounds, blocked three shots and picked off a dozen steals. Not too shabby for a player who only played three quarters of a game last Friday against a highly regarded and state ranked Unity Christian club. Not too shabby for a player who most times is doubled teamed...

Cherokee wrestlers fell to Sheldon/South O’Brien 53-21 and to Central Lyon 53-19 in dual meet competition here Thursday night. “Tonight was a very humbling night,” said cherokee head coach Austin Todd. “We were able to put up a tough fight despite having some extra ones and injuries during the night. ...

Seven Cherokee wrestlers earned double wins here Tuesday in convincing dual meet victories over MVAOCOU (66-12) and MOC-FV (43-33). “What a great night for wrestling,” exclaimed Cherokee head wrestling coach Austin Todd. “I was extremely proud of how our young men brought intensity to the mat.”...

ALTA - Both games of a coed doubleheader here Monday proved to be “typical” first games of the season. Like most season openers, both games were littered with typical early season mistakes, but there were also some bright spots sprinkled in. Ridge View’s Raptors swept the area twin bill, winning the girls’ game 70-30 and claiming a close 43-40 victory in the boys’ nightcap...

South O’Brien, Alta-Aurelia and Cherokee featured football players respresented on the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association (IPSWA) 2019 football all-state teams released recently. Leading the way locally with a spot on the Class A first team offense is South O’Brien’s talented running back, senior Tristan Wilson, the only first team selection in the Chronicle-Times six-school coverage area...

PARKER HONORED Although we were unable to talk directly to our good friend and former Cherokee Brave and University of Iowa Hawkeye, Parker Wildeman, we want to recognize and congratulate him for being inducted into the IHSAA Football Hall of Fame last week in Cedar Falls...

SIOUX CITY - Without even looking at the stat sheets, it was apparent the hot three-point shooting and physicality of a veteran Sioux City West squad spoiled Cherokee girls’ basketball season opener here Monday night. West pulled away from the youthful Braves squad in the second half to log a convincing 90-70 victory...