Wednesday, March 12
1A First Round
#4 Gladbrook-Reinbeck 61, #5 North Linn 55 — It was a tied game after three quarters at 36-36 and a big three pointer by Michael Boyd gave the Rebels a 41-40 lead early in the 4th quarter. The Lynx would come back to tie it again at 44-44 but a jumper by Drew Eilers with 2:59 to go gave Glad Rein the lead for good. Eilers scored 15 of his 21 points in the 4th quarter including 11-12 from the free throw line. Gladbrook Reinbeck moves to the 1A Semifinals with a 23-3 record while North Linn finishes 23-3.
#1 Marquette Catholic 64, #8 St. Mary’s, Remsen 54 — The Defenders led most of the game but St. Mary’s would hang around and never completely went away. The largest lead for Marquette was 12 points — the Knights got as close as 55-48 with 2:07 left in the game. Marquette would hit 4-5 from the free throw line to make it a 59-48 lead and hit more free throws in the final minute to put the game away. Remsen St. Mary’s was led by Collin Homan with 23 points but their season ends at 21-5. Spencer Roeder led Marquette Catholic with 28 points — they improve to 26-1 and will face Gladbrook Reinbeck in the 1A Semifinals tomorrow at 5:30 pm.
#2 Madrid 68, #7 Boyden-Hull 57— The Comets were making their 20th state tournament appearance which is tied for 6th most in the state but the Tigers only making their 2nd appearance at state get the win and remain undefeated at 26-0. The game was close through the first quarter and some of the 2nd when Madrid got a jumper from Toryn Severson to take an 18-17 lead and they would never relinquish it. The Tigers led 31-25 at the half — the Comets kept it close but a Brody Buck three gave Madrid an 11 point lead late in the third quarter. Severson led the way with 30 points to move Madrid to the 1A Semifinals. Boyden Hull ends their season at 18-9.
#3 St. Edmond, Fort Dodge 52, #6 Woodbine 49 — The Gaels overcame a 9 point deficit in the 3rd quarter to advance to the 1A Semifinals to play Madrid tomorrow at 7:15. Woodbine went on a 15-2 run to turn a 2 point deficit to a 37-28 lead. St. Edmond got to 5 at the end of the third quarter — then tied it at 42-42 midway through the 4th quarter. Trailing 47-45 with 1:47 to go, Jakob Koopman of St. Edmond hit a jumper and was fouled — the three point play gave the Gaels a 48-47 lead. Woodbine missed 4 shots in a row and Carson Bargfrede hit 2 FT to make it 50-47 with 26 seconds left. Another missed three for the Eagles but Jax Pryor’s rebound and lay-up cut it to one with 11 seconds to go. Jack McElroy was fouled and calmly drilled both free throws for Fort Dodge and Carson Kelly missed a three at the buzzer to end the game. Koopman had 18 points and Bargfrede added 16 as St. Edmond goes to 23-3. Brody Pryor had 13 points to lead Woodbine, Kelley had 12 and Jax Pryor had 11. Carter Gruver was held to 7 points as Woodbine ends their season at 23-3.
4A Semifinals
#4 Waukee Northwest 57, #1 Cedar Falls 49 — The Tigers have been to the state tournament 7 of the last 8 years including back to back state titles in 2018 and 2019 but this year Waukee Northwest goes to the finals for the 2nd straight year. The Wolves led by as many as 15 points in the 3rd quarter — Cedar Falls got it as close as 5 with 1:57 left in the 4th. Waukee NW had a balanced scoring night with 4 players in double figures — Mack Heitland had 14 points, Colin Rice 12, Landon Davis 11 and Peyton McCollum added 10 and the Wolves — who were runners up to Valley last season — go to 23-3 while Cedar Falls falls to 22-3.
#3 Valley 58, #2 Linn-Mar 56 (OT) — The Tigers will have a chance for a three peat after Jayden McGregory hit the game winning shot at the buzzer of overtime to win it for Valley. Late in the 4th quarter, McGregory was fouled up by one point but went 1-2 at the free throw line to make it 52-50 with 20 seconds left. After a timeout, Linn-Mar’s Zay Robinson tried a three pointer that was off the mark but after two tries, Trevin Jurak tipped it in at the buzzer to tie the game 52-52 at the end of regulation. In the OT, Valley pulled ahead 56-52 but the Lions got a free throw and Payson Nietert hit a three with 8 seconds left to tie the game at 56-56. Valley took a timeout and found McGregory who redeemed himself with the game winning shot. McGregory led Valley with 23 points and they go to 22-3 and will face Waukee Northwest in a rematch of last year’s finals on Friday, March 14 at 1 pm. Linn-Mar ends their season at 22-3
