The Algona girls basketball team is one game away from state, advancing to the regional final for the fourth straight season, as the Bulldogs prevailed 42-40 over the Clear Lake Lions in a game that was defined by its physicality, and by clutch shots from Algona.
Algona staggered out of the gates, falling behind 11-3 while adjusting to the physical style of the game. Clear Lake would hold a 13-7 lead after one, but Algona outscored the Lions 15-7 in the second to take a 22-20 lead at intermission.
In the second half, the Bulldogs led by as many as five points, but after taking a 28-23 lead, Clear Lake raced back ahead with a 6-0 spurt, as the game would seesaw back and forth after that, with one tie and five lead changes in the fourth quarter.
A layup by Emma Spear put Algona ahead 29-28, but a deep three by Taylor Schwenn on the ensuing Lions possession made it 32-30 Clear Lake. The Bulldogs quickly hustled the ball down the floor after the Schwenn triple, hitting Maya Lentz in the right corner for a Bulldog three and a 33-32 lead.
A couple minutes later, after an Ashleigh Amble putback restored a one point Clear Lake lead, Algona again pushed the ball down the court, this time finding Bella Jo Dunning in the left corner for a triple and a 36-34 lead. The suddenly blistering pace continued with Jacelyn Ainley taking the ball coast to coast and tying the game at 36.
Lentz would continue with a big fourth quarter, driving to the bucket for a layup, and hitting a midrange jumper off an inbounds play to put Algona ahead 40-36 with under two minutes to go.
With the score 40-38 and 30 seconds left to go, the 5’4″ Spear drove towards the bucket with the shot clock running out, floating the ball over the 6’4″ Amble, as the shot deflected in to give Algona the four point lead and all but seal the victory.
Lentz paced Algona with 14 points, Kate Limbaugh chipped in 11 points with 16 boards, and Spear added 8 on the scoreboard. Ainley scored 15 in the loss for Clear Lake.
With the win, Algona improves to 20-4, winning two of their three games against Clear Lake this season. Clear Lake ends their campaign at 19-5. #13 Algona will take on #7 Forest City in the class 3A – region 7 championship game on Saturday night, in a rematch of the season opening game that was won 48-45 by Forest City.
