West Fork’s Reese Halloran finishes a dunk against Tripoli in the Class 1A district semifinal at Sheffield on Tuesday, Feb. 23. (Kristi Nixon photo)

SHEFFIELD – Another year, another West Fork boys’ basketball district final.

The Class 1A top-ranked Warhawks got out to a 24-6 lead after one quarter and cruised into the district final with a 66-30 win over Tripoli at home on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

Three Warhawks scored in double figures, led by Gunnar Myers’ 17, followed by Jacob Kuhlemeier with 14 and Reese Halloran’s 13, which included a high-flying dunk in the first quarter.

After that first quarter, however, the Panthers played West Fork even until halftime.

“When we got the lead after the first quarter, our offense got real stagnant,” West Fork coach Frank Schnoes said. “(We were) just kind of standing around and didn’t get the movement we wanted. I think some guys thought, ‘it’s my turn to shoot,’ and I thought we shot a little quicker than we wanted to.”

He added that improved in the second half.

The semifinal win over Tripoli set up the district final at Aplington-Parkersburg against 20-3 Janesville on Thursday, Feb. 25. The Wildcats topped North Butler in the opening game 73-34.

“I think they play a lot like us,” Halloran said. “They play a 1-3-1 like we do and similar in height and length and everything. It should be a fun game, good match-up.

“It should be a fun atmosphere (Thursday).”

Schnoes added, “Janesville is very athletic and they are good jumpers and good quickness, so I know we’ll have our hands full on Thursday; they have a nice ballclub.

“They do more pressing than we do. We do some pressing with our 1-3-1, but really didn’t do it tonight, but very similar. I think they some other types of defenses, too, they threw in a 1-2-2 a little bit, too.”

A complete story will run in the Feb. 25 print editions of the Sheffield Press and Pioneer Enterprise.