Sterling teams fall to Humboldt; Merino boys top Wiggins in split

Logan County fans saw a night of contrasting fortunes on Friday, Jan. 9, as area high school basketball teams posted decisive victories and tough losses in the latest local scoreboard.

Sterling’s programs struggled against Humboldt/Table Rock‑Steinauer, with the girls team falling 49-19 and the boys losing 55-33. Both defeats came by large margins — a 30-point gap for the girls and a 22-point gap for the boys — leaving Sterling with an uphill climb to regain momentum in the second half of the season. Those lopsided scores underscore defensive lapses and an urgent need for offensive rhythm if Sterling hopes to contend in league play.

Merino’s night was a split: the girls team dropped a 52-37 decision to Wiggins, while the Merino boys produced a commanding 45-23 victory over the same Wiggins squad. The boys’ 22-point win offers a clear boost to Merino’s program, showcasing a defense that limited Wiggins to 23 points and an offense efficient enough to build and sustain a lead. The girls’ 15-point loss illustrates how results can diverge within the same school on a single night, and it highlights areas Merino’s girls must shore up moving forward.

Across the state line, Fleming, Colo., completed a sweep of South Platte, Neb., taking the girls game 55-28 and the boys contest 50-42. Fleming’s girls built a sizeable 27-point margin, while the boys secured a closer eight-point win. Those cross-border matchups matter to nearby programs because they offer nonleague competition and measuring sticks outside the usual county schedule.

Friday’s compilation was part of a broader scoreboard that aggregated many area and regional high school results from Jan. 9. For Logan County readers, the most immediate implications are local: Sterling needs adjustments after tough losses, Merino’s boys can carry momentum into upcoming games, and Wiggins’ girls showed resilience with a strong road win.

The standings and playoff pictures are still unfolding as teams pass midseason checkpoints. Fans planning to follow their schools should watch for shifts in defensive performance and scoring consistency, which will likely determine who rises in league rankings and who will be fighting for position.

Our two cents? Come out to the next home games and give the teams a lift — loud gyms and steady support matter when margins can swing dozens of points in one night.