Class 1A Iowa Girls State Basketball Tournament
Remsen-St. Mary’s 54, West Fork 41
If there were any nerves from making its first-ever trip to the state basketball tournament, Remsen St. Mary’s sure didn’t show them.
The fourth-seeded Hawks received 17 points from junior Whitney Jensen to advance to Friday’s Class 1A semifinals with a 54-41 win over previously unbeaten West Fork in a Class 1A first round game Wednesday afternoon. Remsen-St. Mary’s faces top-ranked Algona Bishop Garrigan in the Class 1A semifinals Friday, March 3 at 1:30 p.m.
Remsen St. Mary’s never trailed in the contest, scoring the game’s first five points and never looked back, leading 17-8 after the first quarter and 32-22 at the half. West Fork trimmed the lead to nine points late in the third quarter but would no closer.
The Tigers won the game on the boards, outrebounding West Fork, 40-25, with 18 offensive rebounds. Four players had seven or more rebounds with Mya Bunkers and Claire Schroeder each pulling down nine rebounds and Jensen adding eight. Bunkers had 15 points while Carmindee Ricke added 10 points.
West Fork, who was making its first state trip since 2011, finishes with a school record 24 victories. The Warhawks were led by Leah Weaver’s 11 points.