Sioux Center beats Benton Community in Class 3A girls basketball state championship game
Sioux Center completed a Cinderella run through the girls state basketball tournament with an impressive 62-47 victory over Benton Community in the Class 3A championship game Friday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
The Warriors entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed, but they took no prisoners.
Sioux Center walloped third seed West Marshall, 79-53, and edged second seed Solon, 46-44, before downing No. 4 seed Benton to cap a magical 21-5 season.
"It is indescribable," Sioux Center guard Tatum Schmalbeck said. "We believe seeds don't matter when you get to state. We're competitors, we're fighters and we're good athletes."
Benton ended its outstanding season at 23-4.
Here is what we learned from Sioux Center's championship victory.
Warrior defense is a nightmare
Sioux Center did the job defensively in all three state games.
The Warriors held West Marshall to 35.7% shooting and forced 18 Trojan turnovers and they limited Solon to 26.7% shooting. On Friday Sioux Center held Benton to 36.2% shooting.
Benton had 27 points through the first three quarters. By that time Sioux Center had built a 12-point lead to take command.
Everyone contributes on offense
Sioux Center displayed great depth offensively during the tournament.
Against West Marshall Cori Harald had 14 points, Willow Bleeker 11 and Reagan Jansen 10. Makenna Walhof tallied 14 points and Bleeker 12 in the win over Solon and Bleeer finished 17 points and Schmalbeck 16 in the championship game.
"We really believe it takes a full team effort," Schmalbeck said. "Every night it's another girl. I'm really proud of how each of our girls are able to step up on different nights."
Bleeker was named the 3A All-Tournament captain. Schmalbeck was also an All-Tournament selection.
As a team Sioux Center shot 45.2% from the field and made 20 of 30 free throws against Benton.
Benton has tremendous run
After getting knocked out in the first round of last year's state tournament Benton managed to finish one win shy of a state championship.
The Bobcats were led by All-Tournament selections Jenna Twedt and McKenna Kramer. Twedt had 21 points and five assists against Sioux Center and she finished her career as the school's all-time leading scorer.
"I played as many games as I can in the postseason and I couldn't be more proud of my team," Twedt said. "I know we didn't get the outcome we wanted, but we still made it farther than any other team. I wouldn't want to end my (senior) season any other way."
Kramer added 15 points, Emma Townsley eight rebounds and Zoey Junge five boards against Sioux Center.
Benton also dedicated its great run to teammate Tatum Schroeder, who was diagnosed with cancer this season.
"This whole thing was for Tatum," Twedt said. "It's not easy having her away. Everyone loves her and I'm hoping she can pull through."
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Sioux Center tops Benton for 3A girls basketball state championship
