(Elk Horn) Exira/EHK used a dominant closing stretch to pull away for a 55-31 victory over CAM in a Class 1A Region 7 semifinal girls basketball game Friday night in Elk Horn.
Taryn Petersen and Jaelyn Petersen paced the Spartans with 14 points apiece. Zoey Rasmussen knocked down four three-pointers on her way to 12 points, while Harlow Miller added eight. Kadence Sporrer finished with four points and Riley Miller chipped in three.
CAM was led by Ada Hansen with 16 points. Daphna Walhert contributed six, Ruthie Rich scored five, and Courtney Follman and Ailey Wahlert added two points each.
The Spartans seized control early, using a 10-2 run to close the first quarter and build a 17-9 lead. Taryn Petersen accounted for eight points in the period, including two shots from beyond the arc.
The Cougars responded in the second quarter, trimming a 23-13 deficit to 24-18. However, Exira/EHK answered just before halftime when the 6-foot-1 senior post scored on a short-range buzzer-beater to send the Spartans into the locker room with a 26-19 advantage.
Hansen led CAM with eight first-half points, while Taryn and Jaelyn Petersen each tallied eight in the opening half to guide the Spartans.
Exira/EHK took control coming out of the locker room, opening the second half with a 20-7 surge. Zoey Rasmussen buried a pair of three-pointers during the run, and Kadence Sporrer connected from long range as well, helping the Spartans build a commanding 46-26 lead by the end of the third quarter. Exira/EHK Head Coach Tom Petersen says they made an adjustment on ball screens, improved ball movement, and ramped up their overall play.
In the fourth, the Spartans methodically worked their half-court offense and limited opportunities for CAM, sealing the 55-31 victory.
Exira/EHK will face GTRA on Wednesday night in Carroll with a trip to the State Tournament on the line. The matchup marks the Spartans’ 12th regional final appearance in the past 13 seasons.
We will have the broadcast on KS 95.7 F.M. The pre-game show starts at 6:35. with the tip-off at 7:00 p.m.
