Decorah Offense Finds Its Rhythm in Early-Season Matchups

We cover Decorah because we love it. Show your love back — donate today. After a shaky start at their season opener to Center Point–Urbana on Nov. 25, the Decorah girls basketball team bounced back on Monday, Dec. 1, with a 66–44 on-the-road win over Western Dubuque. The Vikings came out strong with a 16–10 first-quarter lead and found their first taste of a win for the season, erupting for 25 points in the second period to build a secure 31-point halftime cushion between themselves and Dubuque. Decorah masterfully controlled on both ends of the floor, keeping Western Dubuque in single digits for three of the four quarters, all while shaping and molding their most balanced offensive performance of the young season. Decorah's offense was powered by the growing presence of sophomore Grace Tangen, who poured in a team-high 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting, with a number of rebounds straight from offensive glass. Senior Renae Wilson delivered a consistently strong anchor at 15 points and 12 rebounds, while senior Brooklyn Fromm added 12 points. Ball movement was one of the Vikings' biggest strengths, Sydney Thompson saw just two turnovers, keeping the offense flowing. The momentum carried into Tuesday, Dec. 2, as the Vikings hit the road again—this time to face a high-powered Waterloo West squad. Despite bringing their strongoffensive on the road, Decorah fell 87–68 in what is easily described as a fast-paced matchup. Waterloo West opened the game with a 24-point first quarter, forcing the Vikings to play from behind early. Decorah responded with 20 points in the second and continued to battle through the second half, scoring 19 in the third and 20 in the fourth, but couldn't slow the Wahawks' high-scoring attack. In just the first three games of the season, Decorah has shown steady growth, putting veteran players and their resilience to the test. But, despite catching a few early losses, it appears the Vikings are quickly finding their rhythm as they settle into the winter schedule and life back on the court. Elevate your inbox with the DecorahNews.com newsletter! Receive free thought-provoking articles, actionable advice and inspiring stories every week.