English Valleys, BGM advance

Four area girls’ basketball teams will be advancing to the second-round of regional play in Class 1A Tuesday.

Iowa Valley topped HLV-TC in overtime for a 53-52, win and Montezuma advanced via a first-round bye.

English Valleys and BGM also had victories Thursday. Belle Plaine fell at North Tama.

English Valleys 54, North Cedar 31

NORTH ENGLISH — North Cedar kept things within single digits at half thanks to five first-half threes, but the Bears pulled away in the second half after a slow start in the third.

“We came out a little flat to start the third, but after a called timeout the girls really responded,” English Valleys coach Chris Montross said. “We forced eight straight turnovers and only allowed three points in the last 11 minutes.”

Defense has been the Bears’ DNA all season.

Aubrey Achenbach led the charge offensively with 18 points, 11 coming from free throws. Leading scorer Ava Gehrking added 15.

“Her rebounding was tenacious,” Montross said of Gehrking’s performance.

The first-round win makes it 12 on the year now for English Valleys, who will host Iowa Valley Tuesday in the second-round in 1A Region 2.

BGM 44, Meskwaki Settlement 39

MESKWAKI — In 1A Region 8, BGM was able to get a win on the road over Meskwaki Settlement.

The Bears won 44-39 for their eighth win of the season and will travel to play No. 8 Gladbrook-Reinbeck Tuesday.

North Tama 58, Belle Plaine 19

TRAER — The Redhawks got out to a big lead over the Plainsmen and never looked back, leading 30-7 at half.

The Plainsmen scored nine of their 19 points in the third and finish the season with a 2-20 record.