The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows basketball teams made the trip north into Kossuth County on Tuesday night, to take on the Algona Bulldogs in North Central Conference action at Algona High School. The Cowgirls entered with a record of 3-16, while the Cowboys entered with a record of 5-13.
CGD’s girls looked to build off their thrilling win over Eagle Grove on Monday night, but the conference-leading Bulldogs got off to a solid start, leading 15-7 after the first quarter, a lead that the ballooned to 28-15 at halftime. The Algona offense would then open up in the 3rd quarter, putting up 21 points in the frame to take a commanding 49-31 lead, before closing out a 56-45 win and a North Central Conference title. Algona’s Lauren McLaughlin finished with 19 points, while Sawyer Morrical led CGD with 17 points.
The boys game followed with CGD looking to put another win in the column to wrap up in NCC play against a solid Algona squad. Much like they finished Monday’s game, the Cowboys would play lockdown defense on Algona to start, holding the Bulldogs to 5 first quarter points and holding a 12-5 lead. The Bulldogs would claw back to take a 1-point lead at halftime at 22-21, but CGD would grab the lead back at 39-36 at the end of the 3rd quarter. The game would come down to the final minutes tied at 46-46, but it was Algona with key buckets in the final minute to grab a 55-48 win. Ben Helmers led the Bulldogs with 23 points on the night, while Carson Nesheim had 21 points for the Cowboys.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows boys return to action on Thursday, when they travel to Gowrie to take on Southeast Valley in their regular season finale. CGD girls return to action when they open up their postseason on Saturday night, when they travel to Garner-Hayfield-Ventura for the first round of Class 3A, Region 2.