Defending champion Cuba City will return to the title game Saturday following a 62-56 win over St. Mary’s Springs in the Division 4 semifinals.
The Cubans broke open a 16-16 tie in the second period with a 12-2 run to open its largest lead of the first half, but the Ledgers answered with a 10-1 run to narrow the deficit to one late in the second quarter. Cuba City shot well in the first half, hitting 50 percent of its shots; however, the Ledgers advantage was on the offensive glass and at the charity stripe. They grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and made 10-of-13 free throws.
The Cubans opened its biggest lead of the game at 57-45 midway through the fourth quarter and converted enough free throws in the final minute of the game to extinguish any hopes the Ledgers had of a comeback.
Mollie Widige led three Cubans in double figures with 19 points. She also was the team leader in rebounds with nine. Jessi Marti added 16 points, and Kailyn Kaiser contributed with 11. Kelli Schrauth led all scorers and rebounders with 25 points and 12 boards for the Ledgers (24-3). Liz Bohn chipped in with 13 points.
Cuba City (27-0) seeks its membership-leading 11th State title Saturday.
Fall Creek (25-2) withstood a fourth quarter charge by Marathon (25-2) to advance to the Division 4 final with a 56-51 victory over the Red Raiders.
The Crickets led by eight points heading into the fourth quarter, but Marathon erased the lead and took a 42-41 lead at the 3:33 remaining in the game. However the Red Raiders missed golden opportunities when lay-ups failed to fall.
Tatum Mayenshein converted a free throw and a traditional three-point play to give the Crickets back the lead. She responded on the defensive end with a steal that resulted in a pair of free throws by Whitney Folkers . Fall Creek sealed the victory at the free throw line down the stretch.
Mayenshein led all scorers with 18 points for the Crickets. Olivia Burghardt and Shayna Hohlfelder scored in double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively. The Crickets shot 53 percent for the game, including a 67 percent clip in the second half.
Olivia Meurette led a balanced attack for the Red Raiders with 13 points. Emily Kind and Natsha Hanke contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Fall Creek makes its ninth appearance in the State Tournament final, having won four times.