The Estherville Lincoln Central girls jumped four

spots in the Class 3A rankings to No. 10 on Thursday,

and then immediately had a challenge from long-time

rival Emmetsburg that night.

The Midgets held on for a 39-35 victory and then took

care of Okoboji 55-33 on Saturday afternoon.

In Thursday’s win, Jaydan Nitchals scored all 11-first

quarter points for the Midgets and the E’hawks managed

just two free throws in the final minute, as ELC

led 11-2. ELC stretched its lead to 26-13 by halftime,

but the shots wouldn’t fall in the second half. Emmetsburg could never quite take

the lead though. Both teams missed free throws down the

stretch. Nitchals led ELC with 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including 4-of-5 from

3-point range. Kaitlyn Tendal tossed in 14 points, Jordyn Stokes had five, and

Amara Heinrichs had two.

Stokes had four assists and Tendal had five rebounds.

Abbie Schany led Emmetsburg with 13 points.

ELC led Saturday’s game from start to finish as well,

leading 14-4 after one quarter, 30-11, at halftime, and

40-21 after three quarters.

Nitchals again led the Midgets with 16 points

while shooting 6-of-9 from the field. Tendal and Stokes

each finished with 13 points with Stokes going 7-of-8

from the free throw line. Amara Heinrichs had five

points and five assists while Jasey Anderson and Gabby

Paul each had four points. Anderson also had three assists.

ELC (14-2 overall, 5-1 in the Lakes Conference) takes

on Class 3A No. 1 Cherokee (14-0) on Tuesday in Cherokee.

In junior varsity play, ELC defeated Emmetsburg

29-22 on Thursday. Jersie Nitchals led ELC with 11

points and Piper Quastad had eight.

ELC defeated Okoboji 35-26 on Saturday. Hadley

Madsen led ELC with nine points and Quastad had

eight.