Junior Graclyn Eastman recorded her 40th career double double, pouring in 24 points with 14 rebounds, while the defense of the top seeded Bishop Garrigan Golden Bears held the eighth seeded, #15 ranked Kee High Hawks without a three point ball in a 64-42 win in the class 1A state quarterfinal round Wednesday at the Casey’s Center in Des Moines.
Bishop Garrigan, who came into the game with a top five three point shooting percentage in class 1A, was ice cold from downtown, making just 1/17 threes in the first half, on their way to a 7/34 outing for the game, but were still able to thrive offensively with a steady diet of Eastman, who scored 10 of the first 13, and 15 of the first 20 points Bishop Garrigan.
Golden Bear Head Coach Brandon Schwab thought the three point looks were a bit rushed, but Eastman was the difference maker.
For as much as Bishop Garrigan struggled to shoot the three point ball, the struggles were exceeded by Kee. The Hawks finished the game 0/16 on 3s, and shot just 29.3% from the field for the afternoon, after opening the game 2/17 in the first quarter.
According to senior Sacha Alesch, the ability of the Golden Bear defenders to work through screens proved to be key.
Hawk junior Rylee Mudderman came into the game as one of the most prolific shooters in class 1A, leading the class with 79 made three pointers on the season, while taking the third most attempts with 219. Mudderman would finish with 6 points, 9 turnovers, and an 0/8 mark on 3s.
Schwab credits the defense of seniors Emmi Bartolo and Ava Roethler with containing Mudderman.
Bartolo knew that defending Mudderman would provide a big test.
After scoring the first nine points of the game, Bishop Garrigan lead 16-5 after one and 29-16 at the half. Leading 38-25 with three minutes left in the third, the Golden Bears began to create some distance between themselves and Kee, ending third on an 11-4 push to go up by 20. Bartolo would hit a pair of threes sandwiched around a trey by Alesch, and a layup by Eastman to close out the penultimate eight minutes.
Eastman and the Golden Bears felt fewer nerves than some previous trips to the state tournament.
Kee could get no closer than 18 points in the fourth, as their bid for the program’s first state tournament win came to an end with an 18-7 record, while Bishop Garrigan moves to 23-2 with the victory.
Kee senior Addison Winters put 21 points and 8 rebounds on the board in the loss, but no other Hawks had more than six.
Schwab says that although the Golden Bears gave up some points to Winters, they were focused on taking away her ability to kick the ball out to Kee’s three point shooters.
Kee’s starters outside of Winters made just 6/31 shots from the field. Bishop Garrigan sophomore Madelyn Tigges piled up seven blocked shots, while Eastman added four. Alesch and Bartolo joined Eastman in double figures in points, with 12 and 10 respectively.
Alesch feels the trust is at an extremely high level amongst the Golden Bear players.
Bishop Garrigan finished the afternoon shooting 38.8% from the field and 20.6% on three point balls. The turnover tally finished 15-10 in favor of Bishop Garrigan, while rebounding was nearly even, with 43 for Bishop Garrigan and 41 for Kee.
Bishop Garrigan’s quest for a third state title in program history continues on Friday afternoon in the class 1A semifinal round, as the Golden Bears will meet the fifth seeded, #6 Dunkerton Raiders, who are 23-2 after blasting previously unbeaten Lynnville-Sully 60-39 in their quarterfinal matchup.
Pregame coverage can be heard on KLGA 92.7 FM and KLGZ 98.5 FM/AM 1600 starting at 1:10, with tipoff at 1:30 from the Casey’s Center. The winner advances to the state title game on Saturday night at 7 in Des Moines.
