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Washington Evening Journal
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Four Iowa boys high school basketball state champions crowned
Madrid, Western Christian, MOC-Floyd Valley, Valley win titles
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
The Iowa boys high school basketball season reached its climax on Friday night as four state champions were crowned across Iowa’s four boys basketball classes.
Valley, MOC-Floyd Valley, Western Christian and Madrid all hoisted hardware.
For Valley, the 4A state championship has become a normality. Three straight years the Tigers have punched their ticket to the big one and three times they’ve walked away with the state title.
This season, Valley defeated Waukee Northwest 61-47 for the championship.
Valley jumped out to a 15-7 lead in the final and never looked back. The Tigers looked like they were going to run away with it after leading 29-18 at the half, but a 19-12 third quarter by the Wolves made it 41-37 after three.
However, Valley put together its best quarter of the night in the fourth, outscoring Northwest 20-10 to seal its third straight state championship.
In Class 3A, No. 6 MOC-Floyd Valley handed No. 1 Clear Lake its first loss of the season in the title game, 58-57.
What ended up being one of the most exciting finishes of the tournament, was looking like it was going to be a dominant win for MOC-Floyd Valley through three quarters.
The Dutchmen led 37-22 at the half and 50-35 heading into the fourth, but Clear Lake came storming back in the fourth, outscoring the Dutchmen 22-8.
It wasn’t quite enough for a comeback though as MOC-Floyd Valley hung on for the one point win.
Another back-to-back champion was crowned in Class 2A. No. 1 Western Christian defeated No. 2 West Lyon 46-42 for its second straight title.
Western Christian led 7-4 and 23-20 after the first and second quarters, but West Lyon rattled off a 16-12 run through the third period to take a one point advantage 36-35 into the fourth.
In the end it was the Wolfpack who came out on top after edging the Wildcats 11-6 in the final quarter.
Class 1A saw a first ever championship winner in Madrid. The No. 2 Tigers defeated top seeded Marquette Catholic 59-57.
Madrid controlled for much of the first half leading 15-7 after one and 31-21 at the break.
The Defenders came rushing back after topping the Tigers 21-13 in the third to make it just two point game heading into the fourth.
Despite the comeback attempt, the Defenders couldn’t gain enough ground as both teams finished with 15 points in the frame.
