Sports : Vikings rout Mustangs; to face Union in District Championship

Max Griffith shoots a 3; he scored 10 Monday.

The Viking defense recored nine steals; the team was only called for eight fouls.

Nolan Sagan pulls down a rebound.

Kelyn Rickels scored 2 of his 12 on this play.

Grant Sagan pulls down a rebound.

Max Kearns scored seven and recorded eight assists in the Vikes' District win.

Grant Sagan again led the Vikings, scoring 23.

Chase Overton gave the Vikes an early 10-point lead with two consecutive lay-ups.

Nolan Sagan scores the first two for the Vikings.

The Vikings dominated from Grant Sagan's opening tip-off.

Viking cheerleaders join the introduction ceremony.

For the first six minutes, the Independence Mustangs played a close Class 3A District 6 game with the VInton-Shellsburg Vikings. Although spotting the VIkings a 5-point lead, the Mustangs kept the game close, and trailed just 13-7, with a little more than two minutes left in the first quarter.

Then the Viking domination began.

Two quick steals led to Chase Overton layups just seconds apart, giving the Vikings a 17-7 lead, and causing the Mustang coach to call time out. But the Vikings's run continued; before four more minutes ticked off the clock, the Vikings held a 35-9 lead.

The VIkings led the Mustangs, 49-15 at halftime. By then, three Vikings were in double digits in scoring, and another had scored eight. When Coach Johnson sat the starters with 7 minutes left, the Vikings led, 71-24. The game ended with a 74-32 score.

Grant Sagan -- being watched by a Central College recruiter -- led the Vikings with 23 points. Nolan Sagan and Kelyn Rickels each added 12, and Max Griffith, 10. Max Kearns added to his assist total with eight. Nolan Sagan added 11 rebounds, and Grant hauled in nine.

See complete stats HERE.

The Vikings play Union in the District Championship game, scheduled for Thursday at Linn Mar High School. As the game ended, Viking fans learned that Union had defeated Benton Community, 50-46.

Union's record is 8-14; the Vikings defeated them 69-57, on Jan. 3, in regular season play.