(Underwood) Treynor edged Exira/EHK in a thrilling Class 2A Regional Final at Underwood on Wednesday night, securing a 45-44 victory in front of a packed house.
Nora Konz led the Cardinals with 19 points, followed by Ella Thornton with 9, Adison Mauer with 6, Claire Schrage with 4, and Stella Sornson and Hannah Swanson each contributing 3. Rylee Hemmingsen added 1. For the Spartans, Taryn Petersen paced the team with 16 points, while Kadence Sporrer and Zoey Rasmussen each scored 12. Jaelyn Petersen chipped in 4.
Treynor jumped out to a 14-8 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 18-9 early in the second. However, the Spartans answered with a 19-point surge to take a 28-27 lead into halftime. Freshman Zoey Rasmussen knocked down three shots from beyond the arc, while sophomore Taryn Petersen, limited by foul trouble, connected on two deep shots. Treynor Head Coach Joe Chapman says this was a critical point in the game.
Offense was hard to come by in the third quarter, as Treynor outscored Exira/EHK just 6-3 to carry a narrow 33-31 lead into the final period. Cardinals junior guard Nora Konz took over in the fourth, scoring nine points, while Mauer drained a key three-pointer to give Treynor a 42-37 advantage late in the game.
Exira/EHK fought back, pulling within one in the closing seconds, but Treynor held on to punch their ticket to the Class 2A Girls State Basketball Tournament. Coach Chapman says the outcome of the game was decided by one or two plays.
Exira/EHK Head Coach Tom Petersen complimented his players for a great effort.
Coach Petersen credits Zoey Rasmussen for stepping up in the second period, to spark the rally from nine points down.
The Spartans end the season with an 18-6 record. The team says good-bye to seniors Alissa Testroet, and Harlee Fahn.
Treynor heads to the state tournament with a 21-3 record.
