Western Christian Overwhelmes Okoboji for Semifinal Win
Top-ranked Western Christian overwhelmed Okoboji and claimed a 70-41 semifinal victory. It's the Wolfpack's fourth trip in five years to the Iowa High School Girls Basketball State Tournament championship game.
Western Christian, now 24-2, won titles in 2012, '13 and '14 before losing to North Linn in overtime in last year's semifinals.
The Wolfpack's winning streak now stands at 23 -- and the Wolfpack have a big opportunity to extend it.
Ashtyn Veerbeek had a double-double at halftime and finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds to lead the charge for the Wolfpack, who'll seek their fourth title in five years at 8 p.m. Friday. The 6-foot-2 sophomore also blocked four shots and handed out three assists.
Moss, a 6-2 senior, added 20 points on 9-for-10 shooting, seven rebounds and four blocks, while Payton Harmsen scored 12 points.
Western never trailed in building a 31-19 halftime lead, then turned the game into a rout with a 24-1 run in the third quarter.
Veerbeek and Moss scored all but two of the points in that burst and Veerbeek had a hand in the basket they didn't score, leading a fast break and finding Karsyn
Winterfeld with a sweet bounce pass for a layup. The big run stretched the lead to 56-22, triggering a continuous clock for the rest of the quarter. Later, Veerbeek was driving for what looked to be a sure layup when she dished to Moss, who banked in a short jumper for a 63-28 lead. Both soon went to the bench and cheered as reserves finished the game.
Fifth-ranked Okoboji reached the tournament for the first time and ends a fine season with a 24-2 record. Emily Wintz led the Pioneers with 16 points and Cory Hoffman scored nine.
Story Courtesy of IGHSAU
Okoboji vs Western Christian
3/3/16 1:30 PM at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA
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VISITORS: Okoboji 24-2
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
04 Peschong, Megan..... * 2-6 0-1 0-2 1 4 5 4 4 2 2 1 0 22
10 McCabe, Brenna...... * 0-2 0-1 0-1 1 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 3 16
24 Adams, Shaelyn...... * 0-3 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 3 0 1 1 0 0 22
32 Mitchell, Molly..... * 1-5 0-0 2-2 0 6 6 2 4 0 1 4 0 19
40 Wintz, Emily........ * 4-10 0-0 8-10 2 2 4 3 16 1 3 0 0 23
12 Hoffman, Cory....... 2-4 2-4 3-3 0 0 0 0 9 2 1 0 1 14
14 Miller, Mallory..... 0-3 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 7
21 Barnett, Brooklyn... 0-3 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 12
23 Kopera, Breanne..... 0-1 0-0 2-4 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 7
30 Wittrock, Lindsey... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
34 Hromatko, Kailye.... 1-4 1-1 0-0 1 0 1 2 3 0 2 0 1 10
50 Geohring, Grace..... 1-1 0-0 1-2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 6
TEAM................ 2 2 4
Totals.............. 11-42 3-8 16-24 9 15 24 17 41 8 13 5 6 160
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 6-23 26.1% 2nd Half: 5-19 26.3% Game: 26.2% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-6 33.3% 2nd Half: 1-2 50.0% Game: 37.5% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 5-9 55.6% 2nd Half: 11-15 73.3% Game: 66.7% 4
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HOME TEAM: Western Christian 24-2
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
03 Feenstra, Erika..... * 2-5 1-3 0-0 2 1 3 0 5 1 2 0 1 25
05 Harmsen, Payton..... * 4-7 4-5 0-0 0 4 4 3 12 4 2 1 2 22
10 Moss, Kaira......... * 9-10 0-0 2-6 2 5 7 2 20 0 4 4 0 23
11 Bousema, Erica...... * 0-3 0-2 0-0 1 3 4 4 0 6 0 0 2 24
32 Veerbeek, Ashtyn.... * 6-15 0-0 12-13 6 10 16 3 24 3 2 4 0 23
02 VanKley, Avery...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2
13 DeJager, Jessi...... 0-1 0-0 2-2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 4
15 DeJong, Cori........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
21 Marra, Jordyn....... 1-1 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 3 0 1 0 0 8
22 Buren, Alyssa....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
23 Wynja, Janae........ 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 2 10
24 Heemskerk, Kailey... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 4
30 Bousema, Emma....... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
34 Winterfeld, Karsyn.. 2-5 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 5 4 0 1 0 0 11
TEAM................ 1 2 3
Totals.............. 24-48 6-13 16-21 12 26 38 22 70 16 14 9 8 160
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 9-27 33.3% 2nd Half: 15-21 71.4% Game: 50.0% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-9 33.3% 2nd Half: 3-4 75.0% Game: 46.2% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 10-13 76.9% 2nd Half: 6-8 75.0% Game: 76.2% 2
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Officials: Carson Hattel, Ben Applegate, Larry Jacobus
Technical fouls: Okoboji-None. Western Christian-None.
Attendance:
Score by Periods 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
Okoboji....................... 11 8 4 18 - 41
Western Christian............. 14 17 27 12 - 70
Western Christian's #34 Winterfeld fouled out at 3:38 in the 4th.