All four Webster City and South Hamilton teams won their final games in December, a bit of peace of mind for players and coaches alike. They helped to make the practices a little crisper, and momentum is never a bad thing.

“It was really big for our confidence and our moral,” South Hamilton head girls’ coach Mark Henderson said of his team’s 35-34 upset win over then ninth-ranked (Class 3A) West Marshall on Dec. 21 that snapped a two-game slide. “You never want to lose multiple games in a row going into break because it can wear on the kids. Now I think we’re pretty much right where I’d want us to be.”

The Hawks (7-3, 4-2 HOIC) had their share of confidence-boosting performances in the first month of the season. They won games by 23, 36, 37, 40 and 54 points, and now appear to be getting healthy as they embark on the meat of their schedule.

Junior guard Hallee Feaker, who averages 14.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 2.0 assists per game, is expected to return to the court tonight against Southeast Valley following a two-game absence due to a knee injury. She and backcourt mate Makena Galetich (15.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.0 steals, 2.9 assists) guided South Hamilton to the hot start and together again they could provide plenty of headaches for future opponents.

Hallee Feaker, South Hamilton junior.

“I think (Feaker) will be good to go (tonight),” Henderson said. “Our confidence is pretty high right now and that’s going to go a long way for us. I think we could get going on a streak here after the break.”

The WCHS boys’ team (4-2, 3-1 NCC) ended December on a three-game surge, capped by a double-digit second-half rally in a 56-54 win over St. Edmond on Dec. 21. The Lynx are as balanced as teams come with four players — Jaime Grossoehme (14.3 ppg), Ty McKinney (14.3 ppg), Jamin Stuhr (11.7 ppg) and Jayce Neuroth (11.0 ppg) — scoring in double figures.

Stuhr is close to averaging a double-double — he brings down 9.7 rebounds an outing — and Grossoehme is one of the top 3-point shooters in the North Central Conference with 21 triples.

“We’ve definitely got a little momentum and then you’ve got that week (of practice) to really hone in on some things,” WCHS head coach Marty McKinney said in the lead-up to tonight’s home game against Greene County.

The Lynx will see what they’re made of over the next two weeks with a stretch of difficult games. Greene County (4-4) will be no slouch, and contests against the upper-tier of the NCC will follow. Reigning league champion Clear Lake (4-2) comes to town Friday, followed by games against Iowa Falls-Alden (6-2), Humboldt (6-0) and Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (7-0).

Livia Kasch, Webster City junior.

“You get to January and you get into the meat of your schedule,” McKinney said. “Every night is going to be a challenge.”

The WCHS girls’ team (1-8, 1-4 NCC) earned its first win just prior to break, 46-24 over St. Edmond, and will look to win two in a row against Greene County (1-7) this evening. The Rams average just 24.1 points per game.

The Lynx have been offensively challenged themselves so far, but a 27-point fourth-quarter explosion — just one fewer point than their game average — against St. Edmond is exactly what they needed entering the break.

“It would have been hard going into break without a win, so it was very much needed,” WCHS girls’ head coach Nicole Muhlenbruch said. “It just proved that everything we’ve been doing will pay off eventually.”

Junior forward Livia Kasch leads the Lynx in points (7.3), rebounds (5.8) and assists (1.6) per game.

Landen Skartvedt, South Hamilton junior.

The South Hamilton boys’ team (2-7, 2-4 HOIC) wrapped up December with a 49-39 win over West Marshall, just what head coach Matt Juber and his players needed following a difficult stretch.

“That win and how we won was huge for us going into break,” Juber said, noting the Hawks outscored West Marshall 15-2 in the first quarter. “We didn’t just squeak by, we executed and made plays to win.”

Juber says the goal for his still inexperienced group is to find consistency that is needed to compete on a nightly basis.

“Right now we’re seeing glimpses, but confidence and belief are most important,” he said.

Landen Skartvedt (8.3 ppg), Ryland Ubben (8.3 ppg) and Teagan Trask (7.3 ppg) have been the Hawks’ offensive catalysts so far this season.

South Hamilton will be tested right away tonight against Southeast Valley, which has won four straight games. The Jaguars possess a dangerous one-two punch with Kolson Kruse (22.9 ppg) and Aaron Graves (22.4 ppg), two key components to Southeast Valley’s state championship run on the football field this past fall. Graves is a University of Iowa football recruit.