Sports

  Three times this year, the Vinton-Shellsburg boys basketball team has played games decided by two points. They defeated Williamsburg and Marion by 2, and lost at Clear Creek-Amana by a field goal. The Vikings face rematches of those last two games this week, as they travel to Williamsburg on Tuesday then host CCA on Friday. Only seven teams in Class 3A have records better than the WaMaC-West leading Vikings, who are 13-2 on the season.

Two weeks after hosting their own Pink Night, the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikettes participated in another girls high school basketball pink night at Benton Community on Friday evening. The Bobcats wore pink uniforms and organized a variety of events to raise funds and awareness of breast cancer. The unbeaten Benton Community team defeated the Vikettes by a score of 64-35.

  A new club for chldren, the Lil' Racer Car Club, Inc., is beginning this year for the young fans of the Benton County Speedway. The club will be available for free for area children under age 14, and will include a variety of activities. A fund-raising bowling event is scheduled for March 24, at Berry's Lanes, from 2-4 p.m.

  Vinton Parks and Recreation Department 2011-12 Adult Volleyball Standings January 27, 2012   This Week's Results   Sunday, January 22nd   Coed Division Fareway / Tharp Design 29--4 Hummel's / Iron Shed 25--8 Ron-Da-Voo 24--12 PHHF 22--14 Dominant Dingoes 19--14 Diggers 19--17 Team Truax 12--24 Coots Materials 3--33 Meet The Robinsons 0--33   Hummel's / Iron Shed 25--25--25 vs Diggers 14--20--14 PHHF 14--25--15 vs Fareway / Tharp Design 25--15--25 Ron-Da-Voo 25--25--25 vs Coots Materials 11--12--11 Dominant Dingoes 25--25--25 vs Team Truax 19--16--23   Bye Week: Meet The Robinsons   Monday, January 23rd   Men's Division Ron-Da-Voo 29--4 Neve's PFC 17--16 Blockheads 12--21 Terry's Gutter Service 8--25   Blockheads 22--16--26 vs Terry's Gutter Service 25--27--20 Neve's P.

Down by more than 10 early in the game, the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikettes came back to lead Waterloo Columbus, 34-33. But then the visitors scored 10 straight points late in the fourth to preserve a 48-39 victory. Erin Randall's basket with just under six minutes left had given the Vikettes a 34-33 lead. V-S is now 1-14 on the season heading into Friday's game at Benton Community.

Wamac West conference scoring leader Grant Sagan scored 22 points, leading Vinton-Shellsburg to a 68-48 win over Waterloo Columbus Tuesday evening in Vinton.  Jake Milroy, the only Viking senior, scored 16. The Vikings improve their record to 12-2; they host Benton Community this Friday, Jan. 27. See complete stats HERE.

Viking senior Ryan Webster set a personal record and tied a school record during his first match Tuesday night, pinning his opponent in 13 seconds. That was his 26th pin of the season, tying a Vinton-Shellsburg School record. The 13-second fall was the fastest Webster has recorded during his high school career. He later broke the school record with his second pin of the night, and extended it to 28 with his third pin of the quadrangular meet, pinning 160-pound opponents from Midland, Mid-Prairie and Iowa Valley.

  A dozen dates are on tap in the third annual JR Motorsports Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA Modifieds.  Top prize each night is a minimum of $1,000, making all 12 shows qualifying events for 2012 or 2013 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballots. Opening night is Tuesday, May 8 at Benton County Speedway in Vinton. Mason City’s I-35 Speedway hosts the Memorial Day special on Monday, May 28.

In November, Ashley Strong signed a letter of intent with Southwest Community College. Last week, she signed another one. Strong will play both softball and volleyball for SWCC, which located in Creston, south of Des Moines. Last week, she met with SWCC softball coach Lindsay Stumpff for the signing. Also joining Strong were her mom, Teresa, and coach Shirale Hanson, who coached Ashley while she was in Middle School.

  Following a two-point loss at Clear-Creek Amana, a two-point win at Marion and a 22-point victory at Center Point-Urbana, the Vinton-Shellsburg boys return home still leading the Wamac West. The Vikings have an 11-2 record heading into tonight's game, their first home contest since Jan. 6. CPU is second in the conference, with an 8-4 record.