(Elk Horn) Exira-EHK enters a critical stretch in their boys basketball season. The Spartans are 12-1 on the season with three quality opponents straight ahead.
Exira-EHK meets CAM Friday night on KSOM. They needed double overtime to top the Cougars earlier this year. On Monday they’ll have a chance to avenge their lone loss of the season when they oppose West Harrison. Tuesday brings a trip to Coon Rapids-Bayard. Coach Doug Newton says, “It’s pretty big. Not only do you have quality opponents, but if you somehow survive the weekend, going over to Coon Rapids-Bayard and playing, that’s just a tough place to play, that floor is worth at least ten points. Coach Cory Meyer always has a good game plan ready and his kids do a good job of executing it. If you can come out of this one with more wins than losses that’s going to be a plus for the season confidence wise.”
Cash Emgarten leads the team in scoring at 14.5 points per game. The junior has had some big outings this season including a 28 point game against ACGC a couple of weeks ago. “If he gets off to a good start that’s really a plus. He gets the confidence rolling and once he hits a couple the basket must look about ten foot wide. Once he hits one it seems like they go in one after another. His athleticism, he can get some steals and run out layups and he can get higher than that and dunk it now and then. Those are pretty high percentage.”
Versatility is one aspect of Exira-EHK’s game that coach Newton has been impressed with. “Luckily we’ve got some guys with some pretty good basketball IQ and some pretty good talent where we can put things in on a short term basis. Some teams it takes a month to get good at something, but these guys can make it look pretty good in a couple of days. We can adjust accordingly it seems like to who we play. That’s a good thing to be able to do. Sometimes you get teams that can only play one way and the game has to go a certain way for you to be successful. We feel like we can adapt to a lot of different situations.”
Video coverage of both games of Friday’s doubleheader in Elk Horn will be available HERE. The girls game starts at 6:00 and the boys game will follow.
Exira-EHK coach Doug Newton:
