By Bob Hamar
bob.hamar@theindependent.com

Class D-1 No. 1-rated Bergan got 33 points from Eikmeier in a 77-54 victory over the Bulldogs.

Carr, a Colorado State recruit, led Class C-1 No. 5 Ainsworth (17-2) with 27 points.

"Jesse is so good," Bergan coach Chris Paulson said. "He's going to score his points. He's going to give the ball to other people. We just wanted to keep him in check. He's as good a player as I've seen with the ball in his hands."

Paulson said he felt his team had an advantage in depth over the Bulldogs.

"I think our kids might have played a little nervous early on, but again they made plays," Paulson said.

"They have a great team and a great player in Jesse. He had 19 in the first half. I told our kids just keep doing what you're doing.

"We really felt those shots from 25 and 30 feet would be short in the second half if we kept up the defensive intensity and kept chipping away at them. We felt those shots would become short and they did."

Eikmeier, an Iowa State recruit, and Carr did interviews together after the game and then signed a few autographs as well.

Bergan (18-0) 22 14 23 18 77

Ainsworth (17-2) 14 17 9 12 54

BERGANEikmeier 33, White 4, Spellerberg 12, Morrissey 10, Wilmes 8, Jensen 2, Liekhus 8.

AINSWORTHCarr 27, Lentz 2, Curtis 13, Walton 4, Hunt 4, Freeman 4.

Ralston 75, Heelan 62

After falling behind early, the Ralston Rams outscored Sioux City Heelan 20-9 in the second quarter and went on to a 75-62 in the final game of the Heartland Hoops Classic.

Sophomore Dwight Smith poured in 30 points to lead Ralston (16-1) while junior Greg Smith added 19.

Brennan Cougill led Heelan (14-3) with 19 points, Tanner Ferguson had 16 and Zach McCabe 15.

Heelan (14-3) 18 9 15 20 62

Ralston (15-1) 13 20 19 21 75

HEELANGreer 7, Ferguson 16, Sitzman 5, McCabe 15, Cougill 19.

RALSTONGrant 3, Thomas 9, Thompson 8, Martinez 1, Jorgensen 5, G. Smith 30, G. Smith 19.