Top ranked Linn-Mar is headed to the class 4A championship. The Lions got 24 points and 14 rebounds from Kiah Stokes to hold off cross-town rival Cedar Rapids Kennedy 58-53. Senior guard Kayla Klopfenstein also had a big game with 16 points as Linn-Mar improves to 25-0.
The Lions will try to earn their first state title since back in 1985. Klopfenstein says it feels good after being knocked out in the semifinals the past two years. But she says they are not done and have one more game to win.
With the loss the season comes to an end for Kennedy which finishes 21-3. Standout forward Jade Rogers says she didn’t want the season to end and still thinks they are the best team in the state. Rogers finshed with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Second ranked Des Moines East erased a four point deficit in the final 30 seconds to edge third ranked Waukee 50-49 in a 4A semifinal. It included a wild finish that saw Waukee inbound the ball twice under its own basket in the final ten seconds without even getting a shot off. East coach Sam Powell says he can’t explain what happened and says they have a sixth man out there somewhere that looks out for them.
East takes a 25-0 mark into the title game. Powell says the girls do what they need to do and believe in each other and work hard as family to get this reward.
It was a heart breaking loss for Waukee which appeared headed to the championship in the final minute. Waukee coach Chris Guess says it’s unfortunate for the kids to try and explain what happened. He says they have to tip their hat to East as they did what they had to do to win the game.