North Butler is a victory away from a second straight class 2A championship. Indy Uhlenhopp’s rebound basket with 48 seconds remaining gave the top rated Bearcats a 33-32 lead and they went on to down sixth rated Davenport Assumption 36-32.
It was the second straight narrow escape for North Butler which needed overtime to win its first round game. Uhlenhopp says close games are to be expected at the state tournament as everyone plays their hardest. She says if they have another close game in the championship, she hopes they can pull through.
Fourth ranked Battle Creek-Ida Grove will play in the 2A championship game for the second straight season. The Falcons survived foul trouble for standout Kelsey Bolte and a fourth quarter rally by AGWSR for a 48-43 win. Bolte fouled out with four and a half minutes remaining and moments later AGWSR cut the lead to two.
Dani Miller and her twin sister Gabi combined for 26 points.Dani hit four of five from three point range and felt good going into the game. Miller says if she makes a lot of shots in warm ups she gets worried she’ll miss them in games. But Miller says she was missing shots in warm ups and had a milkshake, so she knew she was going to have a good game.
With every layup Spirit Lake coach B.J. Mayer leaped in the air and pumped his fist. No wonder he appeared drained after the game. The fourth ranked Indians sliced through top ranked Decorah’s press in the opening half to the tune of 59 percent shooting and went on to a 62-49 win in a 3A semifinal. Mayer says it’s a lot of fun and when it’s not fun, he won’t be coaching. Mayer says he’s the team’s biggest cheerleader.
Decorah struggled on offense. The Vikings made only 14 of 56 shots and many of those were at close range.
A late season run by Cedar rapids Xavier will end in the 3A title game. After taking out defending champ Norwalk in the opening round Xavier upended number three Ballard 52-38.
That’s Xavier coach Tom Lilly says it’s kind of like putting together a good cake or being a good chef, if you find the right ingredients, "sometimes it comes out the way you like it to come out."