The class 2-A quarterfinals capped off the first day at the boys state basketball tournament. Nodaway Valley was in a familiar position on Monday night and the outcome was the same. Trailing Emmetsburg by 11 in the third quarter, the unbeaten Wolverines rallied like they have done so often to post a 62-58 win and a trip to Thursday’s semifinals. Nodaway Valley trailed 17-9 at the end of one and by nine at the half. Guard Eric Raasch says the Wolverines needed better ball movement. Nodaway Valley got its first lead with four minutes 11-seconds remaining in the fourth quarter on a three-pointer by Eric Raasch to make it 52-49. He finished with 17 points. Emmetsburg coach Mike Brennan says solid defense got them off to a good start. Matt Geelan paced Emmetsburg with 18.
Also in 2-A, AGWSR held Clayton Ridge to just two first-quarter points enroute to a 61-37 victory.
After finishing as the 1-A runner-up last year, Manning has earned a trip back to the 1A semifinals. The Bulldogs took command midway through the fourth quarter to down Rockwell City-Lytton 62-54. Rockwell City-Lytton led 46-45 midway through the fourth quarter but Manning went on a 7-0 run to take the lead for good.
Iowa Mennonite raced out to a 24-5 win after one quarter and went on to down Lynville-Sully 70-40.
In the Class 1-A quarterfinals, Chay Lewis poured in 29-points as North Mahaska held off Rock Valley 67-64. Derek Harberts led Rock Valley with 30-points but the Rockets could not overcome a sub-par first two quarters in which the trailed 35-22 at the half.
Also in Class 1-A, Luke Warren poured in 31-points on 12 of 16 shooting as Cedar Falls NU High got by Sheffield SCMT 65-54. NU High pulled away in the fourth quarter by outscoring SCMT 15-7 to improve to 23-2 on the season. SCMT coach Jordan Nelson says his team gave a great effort.
