Sharing
the ball helped make Waukee a state champion.
Reilly
Jacobson scored 24 points and second-ranked Waukee moved the ball efficiently
all night in beating No. 1 West Des Moines Valley 72-58 to win the Class 5A
championship.
It's
the first state title in girls basketball for Waukee
(24-2) and the Warriors looked good in getting it done.
The
guards set Jacobson up with sharp entry passes and the
all-tournament captain responded by making 10 of 14 shots. She also grabbed 12
rebounds to lead Waukee's 33-27 edge on the boards.
Waukee
shot 58.5 percent and had assists on 18 of 24 baskets. Ellie Cavanaugh handed
out 10 assists to go with her six points and was responsible for most of those
passes into Jacobson, a 6-foot-1 junior.
Andie Mataloni and Carlie Littlefield each scored 11 points for Waukee and
Anna Kollmorgen had nine. The Warriors won the title
in their very first trip to the finals, which came in their 12th appearance at
state.
Grace
Vander Weide, who'll play at Missouri State next
season, led Valley (23-3) with 20 points and nine rebounds. Hannah Fuller
scored 12 points for the Tigers and Jackie Feldt had
10.
Down
18-17 after one quarter, Waukee ran off the first eight points of the second quarter and led the rest of the way. The Warriors
keep feeding Jacobson, made an occasional shot from the perimeter and led by as
many as 17 in the fourth quarter.
Cavanaugh's
10 assists were the most ever in 5A since the tournament went to five classes.
The old record was nine by Ankeny's Madi Robson in
2013.