Two familiar conference rivals will meet in the Class 4A semifinals to determine which one will get a chance to play for a state championship.
Sixth-seeded Lewis Central completed the all-Hawkeye 10 matchup by escaping third-seeded Ballard 47-46 in overtime, ending the Bombers' 22-game winning streak. The Titans will play second-seeded Glenwood at 6:45 p.m. Thursday with a chance to avenge their two regular-season losses to the Rams. Glenwood, which is 25-0, won each of the previous meetings by five points. The Rams advanced with a wild 89-75 victory over Gilbert.
Lewis Central's victory was a tense affair full of twists and turns. After five lead changes, Ballard pulled ahead 44-42 when Josie Fleischmann buried a 3-pointer from the deep left corner with 29 seconds left. She then had a chance to wrap it up after Lewis Central missed a 3-point shot, but she misfired on the front end of a 1-and-1 and the Titans' Delaney Esterling banked in a short jumper with 4.5 seconds left to tie it and produce overtime. Lewis Central's McKenna Pettepier swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key 13 seconds into the overtime -- her only basket of the game -- for a 47-44 lead and that proved to be enough for the Titans to hold on. Trailing by a point, Ballard got one last chance after Lewis Central's Megan Witte missed the front end of a 1-and-1, but Brooke Loewe missed a running shot, Witte grabbed the rebound and the buzzer sounded.
Esterling led Lewis Central with 21 points and eight rebounds. Witte scored 11 points to go with five rebounds and three assists, while Hadley Hill added six points and six rebounds. Maggie Larson led Ballard with 13 points and Cassidy Thompson had 11 plus nine rebounds and four blocks. Teammate Molly Ihle had a solid line with 10 rebounds, five points, five assists and two steals.
Lewis Central, making its fourth state tournament appearance in five years, moves on with a 20-5 record.
Ballard finishes 22-2, with its only other loss to Gilbert in the season opener.