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Washington Evening Journal
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Raiders advance to semifinals
11-0 run to start third proves pivotal in Raiders eventual victory
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
DES MOINES — You don’t have to wait any longer for the Williamsburg girls basketball team to capture their first ever state tournament victory.
The Raiders (24-2), in their fourth appearance, topped Des Moines Christian 52-49 in a thrilling Class 3A quarterfinal Tuesday morning at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
An 11-0 run to start the second half paid huge dividends for the Raiders as they held on for the victory.
“We knew we had to come out strong that second half,” Raiders senior Carly Rich said. “We didn’t shoot the best in the first, and we had nothing to lose.”
Turning defense into easy offense was the key for the Raiders to jump to a double-digit lead in the third.
Nine of the team’s 13 steals in the game came in the second half.
“We are a very defensive oriented team,” said Rich. When we got a feel of what the refs were feeling and calling, we really got into their shorts and did what we do best.“
The second half started with an Ava Hocker three and then four straight layups from Makenna Hughes, Allen, Hocker and Rich.
Just like that, the Raiders were up 33-23.
The score was 37-29 after three.
The Lions took the first punch getting up 11-4. Rich banked in a 30-footer at the buzzer to tie things up at 12 after one quarter.
The Lions took a one-point lead to half at 23-22, as both teams struggled from the floor.
At half, the Lions were 9-15 from the free-throw line, and the Raiders were 2-7.
The Lions made things interesting in the fourth, thanks to Addy Oetker.
Oetker scored eight in the quarter, including a crazy behind-the-back drive for a score.
Channing Becker had a big three for the Raiders off her own offensive rebound to put them up 40-33 midway in the fourth.
“I thought Channing did a good job of getting into the paint a few times,” Williamsburg coach Stephanie Dacey said. “Her three was a big moment.”
The Lions then went on a 7-0 spurt to tie the score again.
Zoe Allen scored for the Raiders off an offensive rebound to regain the lead.
The Raiders’ defense made some key stops on a 6-0 run to go up 48-42.
A Rich floater iced things late at 50-44.
Rich led the Raiders with 19, and Allen posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the paint.
“Our bigs were a key component in the game, and they dominated the boards,” said Rich. “We took it to them.”
Oetker led the Lions with 20, and Ellie Owen added 15.
“To win is super special,” Dacey said. “This group, I was kind of going into the week getting sad that this was going to be the last time they were together.”
Dacey can now add a state-tournament win as a coach to her resume. She went 11-1 as a player with Washington (IA) High School.
“I appreciate them helping me reach my dreams as a coach in what they’ve done,” said Dacey. “They stayed loose and followed the scouting report to a T.”
The Raiders will get a couple more days together as they face Dubuque Wahlert (20-4) in the semifinals Thursday at 3:15 p.m.
“It’s so much bigger then us, that’s what I wrote on my arm (as did the rest of the Raiders), said Rich. ”The win means everything.“
Williamsburg 52, Des Moines Christian 49
Class 3A Quarterfinal
At Des Moines
Des Moines Christian (49): Addy Oetker 8-15 4-8 20, Claire Kirkman 0-2 0-0 0, Meg Muller 0-1 0-0 0, Ellie Owen 5-10 2-3 15, Etta Fish 0-3 3-4 4, Brynn Van Mersbergen 2-4 2-7 6, Catie Hall 0-1 0-0 0, Mya Nerem 0-0 0-0 0, Lauren Schmaltz 2-4 0-0 5, Totals 17-40 11-22 49
Williamsburg (52): Carly Rich 7-15 4-7 19, Zoe Allen 6-11 0-1 12, Makenna Hughes 2-2 0-2 4, Ava Hocker 2-12 2-2 7, Kenedy Skaggs 1-8 0-2 3, Kylee Suhr 1-2 0-0 2, Channing Becker 1-3 0-0 3, Taylor Sanchez 1-4 0-1 2, Totals 21-57 6-15 52
Des Moines Christian … 12 11 6 20 — 49
Williamsburg.................12 10 15 15—52
3-points goals — DMC 4-15 (Oetker 0-3, Owen 3-7, Fish 0-2, Mersbergen 0-1, Schmaltz 1-2), Williamsburg 4-19 (Rich 1-4, Hocker 1-3, Skaggs 1-6, Becker 1-3, Sanchez 0-3); Team fouls — DMC 17, Williamsburg 19; Fouled out — Hocker; Rebounds — DMC 36 (Oetker 13), Williamsburg 35 (Hocker, Allen 10); Assists — DMC 6 (Oetker 3), Williamsburg 6 (Hocker 3); Steals — DMC 9 (Oetker 3), Williamsburg 13 (Rich, Allen 3); Turnovers — DMC 20, Williamsburg 12
