Top ranked Ballard of Huxley roared out to a 27-7 lead at the half and cruised to a 59-30 win over the Indians in the class 3A semifinal round. Waukon made only 3 of 17 shots in the opening half and also committed 11 turnovers.
Waukon coach Gene Klinge says you can’t simulate Ballard’s size, and they took his team out of its offense and then they got tentative and Klinge says the game got "ugly". The Indians finished the game shooting a chilly 25% as they close the season with a record of 21-3.
Senior center Amanda Zimmerman had 17 points and 13 rebounds to lead Ballard. Zimmerman says they wanted to win so bad and says he hasn’t been this far in the tournament since her freshman year, and it’s great to be back. Zimmerman says the seniors want to close out their careers with a title.
There are six seniors and she says they want to win it so badly after making it to the tournament in four straight years.
Ballard will face Sioux City Heelan which downed Pella 45-32 in the other 3A semifinal. The championship game is Saturday night at 6 p.m.