It will be a one versus two showdown in Friday night’s class 1A championship game at the girls’ state basketball tournament. Second-ranked Rock Valley shot 58-percent from the floor to build a 13-point halftime lead enroute to a 71-50 victory over two-time defending champion Preston. Sophomore Amber DeWeerd had 18-points and 11-rebounds while taking advantage of a Preston defense that focused on the high scoring duo of Deb Remmerde and Angela Schlotfeldt. DeWeerd says Preston overplayed Remmerde and Scholfeldt on the press, making it easier for them to run the floor and for her to score.
Preston coach Alan Sparks says Rock Valley had too many weapons he says they tried the triangle and two defense, but they couldn’t stop Rock Valley.
Top ranked Hinton stayed unbeaten with a 73-42 win over number-eight Tripoli. Hinton coach Matt Leary says their goal has been the title game since the day practice opened. He says it goes back to last February when they got beat in the regional final. Leary says this squad deserves to be in the final and they’ll face Rock Valley’s best shot.
It will be their second matchup of the season after Hinton won the first time around in the third game of the season. He says it should be a hard fought good game.
In the class 2A quarterfinals, third-ranked Colo-Nesco scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to build an eight point lead in a 60-47 win over fifth ranked Belmond-Klemme.
Colo-Nesco coach Wayne Cafferty says some quick steals and layups allowed them to build that lead and get momentum in their favor. Cafferty says they executed well down the stretch to hold on for the win.