SYLVAN GROVE --- Rankings mean nothing when the Dragons of Wilson and the Mustangs of Sylvan Unified meet, but the seventh-ranked 1A Division I Mustangs fell 64-49 to Wilson Friday in a game where the score belies the closeness of the contest.

The Dragons gave up a 15-point, second quarter lead as Sylvan pulled ahead in the third quarter. Good defensive play by the Dragons’ Creighton Reeves denied the 3-ball shooting of Mustang Brandon Pool to help Wilson get the win.

The defensive battle between Wilson and the Lady Mustangs ended with the second-ranked 1A Division II Lady Dragons winning by a score of 38-28.

It was a battleground beneath the rim, but Sarah Lanter, Emily Beneda, Dreamer Roberson, Tara Gustus, Shania Steinike and Tanisha  Steinike fought well defensively and on the offensive rebounds. Karlie Steinle -- who averages over 20 points per game -- was held to 16 points in the game.

BELOIT --- The North Central Activities Association is a tough place to play basketball and 10th-ranked 3A Beloit defeated the Bearcats by a score of 68-47. Two Ellsworth players had double digits in the game.

The Lady Spartans fought off the Lady ‘Cats by a score of 61-48. The girls also had two players in the double-digit club.

Delete - Merge Central Plains was idle.

The Bearcat grapplers will compete at 10 a.m. Saturday in the round-robin tournament in Lincoln.

Read about these contests and Tuesday’s game in the Dec. 22 edition of the Ellsworth County I-R.