Thanks to Claire Lueken’s steady shooting, Dubuque Wahlert Catholic finally can celebrate a second state tournament victory. 

Lueken scored 26 points and Wahlert held off a late charge from Spirit Lake to earn a 51-46 victory in a Class 3A quarterfinal game that completed the opening day of the 2025 tournament.

Wahlert recorded its only previous state tourney victory in 2004, then lost six straight times in the opening round before coming out on the right end of this one. The Golden Eagles improved to 20-4 and will play in a quarterfinal game at 3:15 p.m. Thursday.

Lueken put up her points in a variety of ways, scoring in close, with mid-range jumpers and knocking down three 3-pointers. The 5-foot-11 senior also was money at the free throw line, making 7-of-8, including three in the final 30 seconds to help fend off the fast-closing Indians.

Caroline Freed added eight points for Wahlert and Ruth Tauber scored six, including two straight 3-pointers from the right corner to give the Golden Eagles a 48-38 lead with 3:21 left.

But Spirit Lake wasn’t finished. A 5-0 run cut the lead to 48-43 and the Indians pulled to 49-46 when Claire Turner swished a 3 from the top of the key with 18 seconds left. The Indians had to foul quickly and Lueken made two final free throws to finish it off.

Turner led Spirit Lake (17-8) with 18 points, Abby Scott scored 14 and Reese Kennan finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Kennan made all five of her shots and also blocked a shot.

Spirit Lake, which made it to state for the first time since 2015, led by as many as six points in the second half and was up 33-31 after Turner’s trey with 1:52 left in the third quarter. Wahlert then outscored the Indians 17-5 over the next 6 ½ minutes to build its 10-point lead. 

Wahlert shot just 36 percent but came up with 10 steals to create the opportunities it needed on the offense end.