Make it a four-peat for Dike-New Hartford and Payton Petersen.
Dike-New Hartford was pressed to the limit by Panorama in the Class 2A championship game before pulling out a 48-46 victory to become just the second school in the IGHSAU era to win four consecutive titles. Petersen led the way with 27 points and 14 rebounds and was named the all-tournament captain for the fourth straight year.
Ankeny won four in a row from 2002 through 2005. Audubon won four straight from 1921 through 1924, before the IGHSAU was formed.
Dike-New Hartford wrapped up a 25-2 season with the tense victory and Petersen and the other seniors go out with a four-year record of 103-5.
But Panorama, getting 20 points and nine rebounds from Jaidyn Sellers, almost stole the crown.
The Panthers, in the championship game for the first time, harassed the Wolverines throughout, trapping with double-teams, tapping the ball away and intercepting lob passes meant for Petersen in the low post.
Panorama erased most of an early nine-point deficit by halftime, trailing just 22-20, and pulled ahead 42-39 when Tyme Boettcher banked in a 3-pointer and Morgan Crees stole the ball and took it for a layup.
The Panther faithful were on their feet and the Wolverines’ title run appeared in jeopardy.
But Izzy Norton knocked down a huge 3 from the left wing to tie it and the Wolverines then went to their star and she delivered. Twin sister Jadyn fed her with a high-low pass for a basket inside, then stole the ball and slipped her a pass for a layup, putting Dike-New Hartford up 46-42 with 2:28 left.
Two free throws by Mia Waddle and another by Sellers cut the lead to 46-45 with 1:13 to go. With a 35-second shot clock, it looked as though the Panthers would get the ball last.
Dike-New Hartford caught a break when Panorama fouled with 28.7 seconds left, triggering a shot clock reset. The Panthers then had to foul and Petersen swished both with 17 seconds remaining to make it 48-45.
Waddle was fouled was 3.2 seconds left, before anyone could get off a 3-point shot. She made the first shot, intentionally missed the second and Payton Petersen corralled the final rebound.
Maryn Bixby added eight points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals for the Wolverines, while Jadyn Petersen had seven points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
Led by the Petersen twins, Dike-New Hartford also won three state championships in volleyball during their careers, with Payton named the all-tournament captain after each.
Sellers, a state sprint champion who will play softball at Iowa, was sensational, complementing her scoring and rebounding with nine steals and three blocks. She went 9-for-14 from the field with a 3-pointer.
Boettcher added 13 points and six rebounds and Waddle scored eight for the Panthers, who finished 25-2.
Jadyn Petersen, Bixby, Sellers and Boettcher also made the all-tournament team along with Sioux Central’s Morgan Christian.