Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont will take its unbeaten season into the state semifinals for the first time.
The Rockets built a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter, only to find themselves holding off a late charge by Treynor before pulling out a 52-45 victory to start action in Class 2A.
Molly Shafer led with 22 points as EBF (25-0) won for the first time in three appearances at state and advanced to play again at 10 a.m. on Friday. The Rockets are one of just two teams still unbeaten as the season winds down. The other is Hinton, which will play in a 2A quarterfinal on Wednesday.
Ava Eastlick and Chloe Lyon each scored eight points for EBF, with Eastlick handing out six assists and Lyon grabbing eight rebounds. Shafer’s twin Kate led all rebounders with 11 and chipped in with six points, two assists, two blocks and a steal.
Molly Shafer went scoreless in the first quarter, but found her rhythm once the second quarter started. She scored the Rockets’ first 10 points of the quarter to pull them into the lead and finished 9-for-14 from the field with five steals. Both Shafers are headed to Northern Iowa to play volleyball.
Claire Schrage led Treynor (21-4) with 13 points and four assists. Nora Konz added eight points and 10 rebounds and Hanna Swanson came off the bench to score seven and grab four rebounds in 14 productive minutes.
Treynor had a 19-7 edge in points off turnovers but was outrebounded 35-28, went just 4-for-26 from 3-point range and shot only 35 percent overall.
Still, the Cardinals made it a game after EBF looked to have it wrapped up. EBF edged ahead 19-16 at halftime, then opened things up over the final two quarters, building a 10-point lead in the third quarter and running off the first 10 points of the final period to stretch its lead to 50-31 with 3 minutes left.
Treynor wasn’t finished, though, forcing some turnovers and storming back with 14 straight points to cut the lead to 50-45 on Schrage’s driving layup with 55 seconds remaining. The threat died there and EBF stayed ahead despite making only two of its final eight free throws.
