Girls State Basketball Results Wednesday, March 4th
Exira-EHK Vs St Albert- Class 1A Quarterfinals
St Albert 45
Exira-EHK 37
Exira-EHK battled back from a 15-1 deficit and nearly won their quarterfinal round game, tying it at 35 late in the 4th quarter but St Albert ended the game with a 10-2 run, ending a fantastic season for the Spartans at 22-2. The Spartans defense kept them in the game, with their 2-3 and 1-3-1 zones clogging up the middle, not allowing Avah Underwood or Brooklynn Rutledge to get good looks. The Saintes dominated the glass, finishing with 25 offensive rebounds. Exira-EHK did a nice job defending the second and third chance opportunities, holding the Saintes to 29.5% from the field. Neither team shot the ball well from outside with the Saintes going 2-25 from three and Exira-EHK finishing 2-12 from deep with both makes in the 4th quarter.
The Saintes took a 6-0 lead before Kadence Brannan Sporrer hit a free throw to get the Spartans on the board. St Albert responded with a 9-0 run and led 15-1 before the Spartans made their first basket, finally settling in offensively after several early turnovers, leading to easy buckets for the Saintes. Taryn Petersen hit a runner in the lane and Jaelynn Petersen made a free throw and Taryn added layup and Exira-EHK pulled within 15-6. A pair of free throws by Jaelynn Petersen made it 15-8 but the Saintes led 17-8 to end the 1st quarter. The Saintes extended the lead to 19-8 to start the 2nd but Exira-EHK kept chipping away as both teams struggled to make shots. The Spartans held St Albert to 11.1% from the field in the 2nd quarter, allowing them to slowly cut into the deficit. Taryn Petersen scored to make it 19-11 before Jaelynn Petersen hit a shot, followed by a bucket and free throw from Taryn Petersen to make it 20-16. Harlow Miller scored inside on an assist from Kadence Brannan Sporrer, pulling the Spartans to 20-18. They trailed 22-20 at half and had the momentum.
Jaelynn Petersen made a free throw and Harlow Miller scored inside keeping the Spartans close early in the 3rd quarter, but St Albert went on a 5-0 run and led 31-23. Jaelynn Petersen snapped the run with a bucket, but St Albert led 33-25 going to the 4th after holding Exira-EHK to 5-points in the 3rd quarter. Riley Miller hit a clutch three to start the 4th and Taryn Petersen answered with a tough shot to pull the Spartans within 33-30. St Albert extended the lead to 35-30 but Taryn Petersen responded with a three and another short jumper, tying the game at 35. Avah Underwood got going for St Albert, scoring three times inside and Eleanor Coughlin added a tough runner in traffic to stretch the Saintes lead as St Albert went on a 10-2 run to end the game. Harlow Miller gave the Spartans a chance, scoring a layup off a Jaelynn Petersen assist against the press but the Spartans couldn’t get a stop as the Saintes kept getting offensive rebounds and Lexie Pearce sealed the game with a pair of free throws.
Taryn Petersen led the Spartans with 18-points and 3 steals with Jaelynn Petersen adding 8-points and 9 rebounds. Harlow Miller had 6-points and 7 rebounds, Riley Miller had 3-points and Kadence Brannan Sporrer added 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Spartans end the season at 22-2.
Exira-EHK Stats
Riley Miller 3 Points
Taryn Petersen 18 Points, 4 Rebounds, 3 Steals, Block
Harlow Miller 6 Points, 7 Rebounds, Steal, Block
Kadence Brannan Sporrer 2 Points, 3 Rebounds, 3 Assists
Jaelynn Petersen 8 Points, 9 Rebounds, 2 Assists, Block
Box Score
Teams 1 2 3 4 Final
E-EHK 8 12 5 12 37
St Albert 17 5 11 12 45
