DES MOINES (KWWL) -
The Tigers weren't supposed be here, but Friday afternoon they got their shot at the state final with unbeaten Bettendorf standing in their way.
Bulldogs jumped out to the quick lead. Cole Clearman hits from downtown as they'd lead 17, 14 at half, but Cedar Fall would storm out of the lockerroom at half. Kalund Brown up to twin brother Kalehl. He had 16 in the game, that was part of an 8-0 run, 22, 17 Tigers.
Later in the 4th, Tigers up 2, Kalehl drives and scores 36, 32 Cedar Falls. They'd hold that until the final minute.
But Kendall Jacks hits inside. Bettendorf retakes the lead with under 30 seconds left.
Tigers now down 3, under 10 seconds to go. Ike Boettger fires one up for the tie, but it's short. Cedar Falls nearly pulls the upset, but they'd fall 39, 36.
"That first win, that was Cedar Falls' first win since '87, so I mean we still accomplished a lot this year, a lot more than we thought we would," Kalund Brown said (6 Points, 3 Assists).
In the other semi, top ranked Iowa City West and number 4 Dubuque Senior.
The Trojans got after things right away, on the break, Myzeah Batie-Gaddy with the hammer 13, 10 West early, but Senior responded in the second quarter, Kyle Haber scores just before half, 10 for Haber. The Rams went to the break up 23, 17.
But it was all West in the second, Wyatt Lohaus gets the and 1, Trojans on a 12, 1 run,
and Jeremy Morgan makes it 15, 1 hitting from deep 32, 24 West, and they wouldn't quit. Ring up three more for Morgan. He finished with 17 as the Trojans roll to the finals with a 52, 36 win.
"We just started making our shots. We knew we weren't playing good in the first half, and we knew something had to change. So we came out with a lot of energy, and we turned it around real quick," Jeremy Morgan said (17 Points, 4-6 3 Pointers).
"That's all them, that's mental, I mean we've done all the work physically to get ready, mentally you've got to put yourself in the spot, and they did it," Iowa City West Head Coach Steve Bergman said.
Iowa City West will meet Bettendorf Saturday night for the 4A Championship.
