Michael Soukup scored 17 of his game high 24 points in the opening half as top ranked Danville raced out to a 23 point lead in a 78-46 victory over Wapsie Valley in a class 1A quarterfinal round game. Soukup finished four of five from three point range and seven of the first nine baskets of the game for the Bears were from beyond the arc.
Soukup says they knew they could dribble drive and then kick the ball out for a three. Danville raced out to a 20-6 lead at the end of the first quarter and the Bears shot a blistering 59-percent for the game.
After finishing as the runner up the past two years Danville is two victories away from a state title. “It’s a big motivating factor for us, for the seniors this is our last opportunity, so we really looking forward to giving 110-percent out there every time we step on the floor,” Soukup says.
The Bears connected on seven of 11 from three point range in the opening half and led 40-17 at the break.Wapsie Valley coach Marty McKowen says Danville put on a pretty good display in the first half and his team didn’t adjust well on defense.
Kennedy Drey scored 33 points and Luke Lenhart added 28 as third ranked Storm Lake St. Marys pulled away in the third quarter in a 73-51 victory over eighth ranked Oakland Riverside. Drey also hauled down 14 rebounds as the Panthers earned their third straight trip to the 1A semifinals.
He says it felt different coming down without last year’s seniors, but says it still felt like home when they stepped out on the floor. Drey says the Panthers felt tournament experience would be an advantage for them, as they knew their opponents might have some jitters.
Ricky Williams scored 21 points and added 17 rebounds as Riverside closed the season with a record of 24-2.