The Sioux County Warriors overcame early problems with execution to defeat Minatare Friday 48-30.

The Warriors fumbled the ball five times in the first half, with the first one coming on the second play of the game. The mistake led to a Minatare touchdown and let the Indians take a 6-0 lead. When Sioux County took possession again, they negated a long gain with another lost fumble. Later in the quarter, the Warriors found themselves at 4^th and 40 after a penalty, a bobbled snap and two tackles for losses. Sioux County found the endzone on a 65-yard touchdown run by Will Skavdahl with 5:20 remaining in the first quarter.

Minatare answered with a 15-yard passing touchdown three minutes later, only to have Sioux County score in 19 seconds on a pass from Skavdahl to Logan Monroe. The Warrior defense allowed Minatare to march down the field again, however, and the Indians went up 22-12 with five seconds left in the period. A defensive penalty as the clock ran out gave Sioux County an untimed down. After the second consecutive bobbled snap, Minatare intercepted the ball and the first quarter ended.

The Warriors woes continued in the second as they fumbled on the first possession, though they managed to recover it. Jack Hunter scored the first of his four touchdowns with 7:21 left in the half on a 45-yard run to make it 22-20 in favor of Minatare. Hunter followed that with an interception and a 10-yard run one minute later to give the Warriors their first lead 28-22. Hunter scored again with 4:13 left in the half to give the Warriors a 34-22 advantage at the break.

Sioux County recovered a Minatare fumble early in the third but lost ground after a penalty and a sack, eventually turning the ball over on downs at the eight-yard line. Minatare jogged in on the next play to close within four as the fourth quarter began. Hunter notched his fourth touchdown with 6:27 left in the game on a three-yard run to extend the Warriors’ lead to 42-30, and a Jadon Skavdahl interception set up Colton Randall to make a 23-yard catch to give Sioux County its final score. William Skavdahl secured an interception for the Warriors with two minutes left to make sure Minatare was kept at bay.

The Warriors end regular season action 4-4 on the year.

Warriors End Regular Season With Win

The Sioux County Lady Warriors wrapped up the regular season with a win Friday and head into sub-district competition as the number two seed.

The Warriors prevailed over Minatare 25-13, 23-25, 25-7, 25-13 at home to improve to 13-10 on the year. Sioux County went up 3-0 in the opening set before Minatare knotted the score at set points three, four and five. A Sierra Eastman kill and a Kaylee Juhnke ace put the Warriors back on top 7-5, and they maintained the advantage to go up 1-0.

Minatare took an early 4-2 edge in the second despite back-to-back kills by Sioux County’s Tamika Eastman to open the set. The Warriors made five errors before adding an Ella Hyer kill to spark a 3-0 run behind another Juhnke ace and Sierra Eastman kill to tie it at six. Minatare retook the lead on a serving error and continued to control the pace, leading 23-16. Two aces by Ashley Hunter and a kill by Sierra Eastman lifted the Warriors to within two, 21-23. Minatare, however, fended off the late challenge and evened the match at 1-1.

Minatare looked to repeat in the third, opening with a 4-1 advantage but Sioux County tied it at four on a Tamika Eastman kill and pulled ahead 9-5. The Warriors went on a 16-2 run to close out the set in dominating fashion, earning five of their last 10 points through their attacking game as Sierra Eastman landed three more kills, and Britney Klein and Becca Reece added one each.

Minatare led early in the fourth again, 3-1, on an ace serve and a series of Warrior attacking errors, until Juhnke, Ashley Hunter and Sierra Eastman combined attacks for three kills to go up 6-4. Tamika Eastman added three consecutive kills to make it 10-6, and the Warriors rolled to the match win, closing out the final set on a Becca Reece ace.

Sioux County’s attacking game landed 34 kills, led by Tamika Eastman with 14 and Sierra Eastman with 10. Juhnke contributed five. The Warriors dropped 15 aces from the serving line. Tamika Eastman had four, and Sierra Eastman and Juhnke each added three. Reece and Hunter contributed two apiece.

Sioux County will play Cody-Kilgore Monday in Hay Springs for the Class D2-12 Volleyball sub-district. First serve will be at 6:30 p.m. The winner of the contest will advance to the tournament championship Tuesday.