Spartan boys knock out Warhawks for district title

PARKERSBURG – An energetic Grundy Center boys basketball team powered its way to a first-quarter lead and held on the rest of the way to topple the Warhawks, 79-63, for the Class 1A District 10 title on Thursday at Aplington-Parkersburg High School.
 
After a 2-8 start to the season, a revitalized Grundy Center (12-10) team is now one game away from the state tournament: fourth-ranked Montezuma awaits in a substate final scheduled for 2 p.m. in Marshalltown on Saturday, Feb. 23. The winner advances to the Class 1A state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
 
West Fork (18-5) entered Thursday’s game looking for a third-consecutive substate final appearance and riding a nine-game winning streak.
 
“We came in knowing we were underdogs,” Grundy Center senior Mitchell Munson said. “We wanted to come out and play with our hearts, do what we know we can do. I knew we’d come out strong.”
 
Munson and Matthew Sternhagen both came off the bench to contribute memorable performances.
 
Sternhagen scored 18 points with eight rebounds, including 12 points in the first half when starter Joe Johnson sat with two fouls. Munson made 5-of-7 three-pointer attempts toward his 16 total points, adding six rebounds. Tanner Appel scored 17 points as Appel, Sternhagen and Johnson all worked over West Fork in the paint. Johnson chipped in four points and five rebounds and Travis Kuester scored eight points with seven assists.
 
“Numbers don’t lie with that guy,” Sternhagen said of Appel. “He’s got heart and he’s gonna take it to the hole.
 
“I think we just love playing with emotion. … Our fans are loud when we’re making big plays, kids are hitting big 3s, they love coming out watching and we love having them here to support us on.
 
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