Quality shots lead to a high percentage and second ranked Des Moines Roosevelt had both in a victory over Iowa City High. The defending champion Roughriders scored 36 points in the paint and shot 60 percent for the game as they trounced the Little Hawks 61-26 in the class 4A opener.
Junior Morgan Hamner came off the bench for Roosevelt and led all scorers with 21 points, including nine of 13 shooting.It is Roosevelt’s fourth consecutive trip to state but it was the first for Hamner who missed last year’s title run due to an injury.
The Roughriders jumped out to a 21-6 lead at the end of one and led by as many as 39 points in the second half. Iowa City High generated little offense all game making only 10 of 54 shots in the game. Iowa City High closes the season with a record of 19-6. Roosevelt advances to the semifinal round with a record of 22-2
Cedar Rapids Washington advanced top the semifinals of class 4A as they pulled away in the second half to beat Ames 55-44 in the quarterfinals. Kaitlin Oney led the Warriors with 11 points and Kaitlin Armstrong added 10 points. Trisha Nesbitt had 15 points for Ames and Alex McGrory scored eight. Washington faces Des Moines Roosevelt, the team they lost to in last year’s championship.
West Des Moines Valley also advanced to the semifinals, as the Tigers downed Des Moines East 47-38. Ashton McClairen led Valley with 17 points, Emily Hejlik added nine, and center Molly McClelland scored eight despite sitting out half the game because of foul trouble.
Center Tia Mays led East with 23 points, eight rebounds.
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