Exira-EHK’s “elite eight” reaches final eight with thrilling win over Lenox

February 24th, 2021 by admin

The Exira-EHK Spartans built a twenty point halftime lead, let it slip away, and then finished strong to win the Class 1A Region 8 Final over Lenox 66-56 on Wednesday night in Winterset.

Lenox jumped on top first with a 7-0 run to start the game but the Spartans quickly settled in and rallied. A 21-0 run starting in the middle of the first quarter turned a 11-7 deficit into a 28-11 lead. The Spartans built the lead to 20 at halftime 41-21. Lenox then responded with a 24-7 advantage in the third quarter to get right back in the game. The Tigers would eventually tie the game at 54 in the fourth quarter on a TJ Stoaks three but the Spartans never let the Tigers take the lead. The Spartans went to the foul line for 15 free throw attempts in the fourth quarter and connected on 10 of them to regain the lead and seal the win.

The Spartans only suit 8 players and Coach Tom Petersen said he likes to call them the elite eight and now they have earned the right to be called one of the best 8 teams left in Class 1A as they punched that ticket to State. The Spartans are headed back to Des Moines after a two year hiatus.

Quinn Grubbs led the Spartans with 31 points on the night, including 14-20 from the free throw line. Macy Emgarten poured in 20 points. The Spartans attacked the basket well throughout the night and Lenox racked up a large number of fouls each half, giving the Spartans a wealth of free throw attempts. They finished the game connecting on 26 of 38 attempts. The Spartans improved to 23-0 on the season.

Lenox was led by 22 points from TJ Stoaks, 15 from McKinna Hogan, and 10 from Cassidy Nelson. Lenox ends a terrific season at 20-4.

The Spartans drew the #4 seed in the 1A State Tourney bracket and will face #5 seed MMCRU in their first round game next Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. We’ll have coverage on KJAN.

Listen to the full postgame interviews with Exira-EHK Head Coach Tom Petersen, Shay Burmeister, Mollie Rasmussen, Macy Emgarten, and Quinn Grubbs in the file below.