The Exira-EHK-Audubon girls basketball put forth a strong effort and defeated the Griswold Tigers 57-33 Tuesday night in Elk Horn. For much of the game, Exira-EHK-Audubon was the better team, The found success on the inside, played with speed, stretched the court, and defended very well making it difficult for the Tigers to work in the paint. However, Amanda Houser and the Tigers kept Exira-EHK-Audubon on their toes. The Tigers forced numerous turnovers of their own and Houser’s 20 points help Griswold grab momentum at times. However, despite the best effort of the Tigers, Exira-EHK-Audubon always found a response as they kept the Tigers at arms-length to bring home their 20th straight win and a spot in the regional semi-finals.

Exira-EHK-Audubon flexed their muscles from the opening tip. Exira-EHK-Audubon opened the game on a 13-2 run and were all over the Tigers. Their speed and athleticism caused problems for Griswold, none more so than in the back court as the pressure led to turnovers. It seemed as if Exira-EHK-Audubon had a chance to run away with the game early. However, as they did at points throughout the night, the Tigers surged. Thanks to some solid defense and a pair of threes from Houser and Carsyn Adams, Griswold nearly switched the momentum of the final three minutes of the opening frame. However, as Exira-EHK-Audubon did so many times throughout the game, they brought it back in and held a nine-point lead at the end of the first.

The rest of the game, for the most part, followed this same formula. Exira-EHK-Audubon looked like they had a chance to pull away, Griswold responded with solid defense forcing stops and turnovers, found a few baskets only to be followed by a response from Exira-EHK-Audubon to keep the Tigers at arms-length. Given the challenge Griswold had, they played very well. Defensively they held Exira-EHK-Audubon below their season average and seemed as if they were a few shots away from getting back into the game multiple times. Houser shot as well as she had shot all season and finished as the games leading scoring with 20 points. However, Exira-EHK-Audubon was just too much to handle for the young Tigers. They were fast, athletic, cashed in on their opportunities and were just a deeper team. Taryn Petersen was the driving force behind the offense not just with her scoring but with her speed. She put up nine points in each half and was money from the field in the first while nearly perfect from the free throw line in the second. In all, 8 different players from Exira-EHK-Audubon found their way on the scoresheet as Jaelynn Petersen added 10 while Harlow Miller (who was a beast in the paint on both offense and defense) put up nine. Ultimately, the better team moved on as Exira-EHK-Audubon is back in the regional semi-final for the second consecutive year.

The Griswold Tigers finish the season with a record of 12-11 and have a lot to look forward to with only one senior departing. Meanwhile Exira-EHK-Audubon will host the CAM Cougars in the Region 7 semi-final on Friday with tipoff set for 7 pm in Elk Horn.