Class 2A provides first close game in Girls’ tourney

The action at the Girls’ State Basketball Tournament today featured the opening round in class 2A. Third-ranked Maquoketa Valley built a lead with a full court press which had the game going end-to-end then used the delay game in the final quarter to hold off a rally by PCM Monroe as the Wildcats posted a 53-46 victory. Maquoketa Valley coach Tom Pestka says the Wildcats went to the delay in the fourth quarter to try to shorten the game. He says if they would have made their free throws, they’d be geniuses.Angie Dircks from Maquoketa Valley said a big early lead turned out to be the difference.Second-ranked Hudson scored 17 points in the third quarter, impressive when you consider the Pirates had 13 at haftime. Hudson advanced with a 40-25 victory over Cherokee.Hudson coach Mike Vis. The Pirates made just five of 23 shots in the first half. Senior center Maria Stoner had eight points and added ten rebounds for Hudson and says they were aware of the shooting problems so many teams have in their first game at Vets. Sixth-ranked Iowa City Regina and seventh-rated Tri-Center provided the tournament’s first nail biter. Kelsey Homewood’s lay-up with nine seconds remaining lifted Regina to a 44-43 win. Regina coach Jeff Wallace was not surprised the game went own to the wire, he says they told the kids it would be a one or two possession game.