Iola-Scandinavia’s boys’ basketball team closed out the regular season on a positive note Feb. 21 with a 62-24 Central Wisconsin 8 Conference win over Manawa.
The Thunderbirds also knocked off Wisconsin Valley Lutheran 68-40 Feb. 18 in a nonconference matchup.
I-S led 17-3 after one quarter, but the Wolves came back to cut the deficit to 28-22 at halftime. The second half belonged to the T-Birds, as the visitors outscored WVL 19-7 in the third quarter and 21-11 over the final eight minutes.
Connor Lodewegen and Evan Fuhs led I-S with 13 points each, while Kristian Welch also finished in double figures with 12.
The T-Birds will open state tournament play at home at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, against Rosholt or Manitowoc Lutheran. I-S received a No. 2 seed in Division 4. Rosholt is seeded 10th, while Manitowoc Lutheran is a No. 7 seed. Those two teams played Feb. 25.
The winner of the Feb. 28 regional semifinal will play for a regional championship at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 1.