Dike-New Hartford Sets Single-Season Win Record [PHOTOS]
Dike-New Hartford survived a slow start and wild finish to remain unbeaten.
The second-ranked Wolverines rallied from an eight-point deficit in the first quarter, built an 11-point lead, then held off Treynor in the closing minutes for a 44-36 victory in the Class 2A quarterfinals of the 2021 Iowa High School Girls State Basketball Tournament.
Several of the Dike-New Hartford players helped the volleyball team win a state title in November and that championship poise helped in this one. The Wolverines improved to 24-0 and will make their second straight appearance in the semifinals at noon on Friday.
Ellary Knock led Dike-New Hartford with 14 points, including a couple of 3-pointers and a key layup in the fourth quarter. She also grabbed six rebounds and made three steals.
Freshman Payton Petersen, the all-tournament volleyball captain, had 11 points, 10 rebounds and three steals, while Paula Gonzalez contributed 10 points and four steals, including a big 3-pointer to help the Wolverines build their cushion at the end. Dike-New Hartford finished with 16 steals in all and forced 24 turnovers.
Senior Mandy Stogdill and sophomore Clara Teigland both played outstanding games for 10th-ranked Treynor, the 2019 state champion. Stogdill, a starter on that championship team, scored 16 points with four 3-pointers, handed out four assists and made five steals. Teigland added 15 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. She had 10 points in the first quarter to spark Treynor to its early lead.
Treynor knocked down four 3-pointers in jumping to a 16-8 lead and led 21-17 at halftime. Dike-New Hartford played more aggressively in its zone defense after halftime and it paid off. The Wolverines came up with eight steals and forced 10 turnovers in the third quarter, when they outscored the Cardinals 16-5 to move in front for good.
Gonzalez had time to set her feet and measure her shot before sinking a 3 from the right corner for a 38-29 lead and Knock's layup after Camille Landphair's steal hiked the lead to 40-29 with 3:14 remaining.
Treynor (20-5) had one burst left, running off seven straight points to draw to 40-36 when Stogdill swiped the ball and drove for a layup with 1:36 left. But the Cardinals got now closer. Another Lanphair steal led to a pair of free throws by Sophia Hoffman and Taylor Kvale's steal led to a Petersen layup that sealed it.