The Exira-EHK girls basketball team lost a heartbreaker at the hands of the Treynor in the Class 2A Region 7 final. Although ahead at halftime, the Spartans battled from behind multiple times in the ball game. Down by 3 with seconds remaining, Exira-EHK scored off a turnover to make it a one-point game. With seven-tenths of a second remaining, Taryn Petersen intercepted a long inbound beyond center court and heaved it toward the basket. As the buzzer sounded, the ball bounced off the backboard and stayed out as the Treynor Cardinals defeated the Spartans 45-44.

The game was hard fought from start to finish and saw lots of three-point shooting early. The teams combined for just two field goals in te opening frame while knocking down six from beyond the arc. The scoring went back and forth with each team answering the other after Taryn Petersen scored the opening points of the ballgame. However, Treynor came out of the first quarter with a slim three point lead.  Despite the Cardinals opening up a nine point lead in the early part of the second, Exira-EHK battled back. Petersen hit a pair of field goals and a three-pointer, while Zoey Rasmussen drained a pair of threes to give Exira-EHK a 28-27 halftime lead.

While the long ball ruled the first quarter, defenses ruled the third. After a three-ball from Rasmussen in the opening seconds of the quarter, the Spartans were held scoreless for the rest of the frame. Although Exira-EHK’s defense was just as good, a pair of Treynor of Nora Konz field goals helped Treynor retake the lead for good. Early in the fourth the Cardinals built a slim lead, but once again the Spartans battled back. However, despite the tremendous effort, Exira-EHK fell short at the buzzer. Konz led the charge for Treynor finishing the game with 19 points while Petersen finished with 16 for Exira-EHK. Head coach Tom Petersen said their inability to get into a rhythm affected other parts of their game but was also very proud of their effort.

One of the players to step up for the Spartans was Zoey Rasmussen.

Kadence Sporrer also had a phenomenal effort, handling the ball for large stretches of the game after Exira-EHK found themselves in foul trouble.

The Spartans graduate two seniors in Alissa Testroet and Harlee Fahn and coach Petersen says that the team is losing a lot of heart.

The Spartans finish the 2024-2025 campaign with a record of 18-6 falling short of the state tournament by a mere two points.