Ankeny 47, SE Polk 45

Ankeny won its rubber match with Southeast Polk and it came in the game that counted the most.

Maddie Manning scored five points in the final 73 seconds and teammate Krista Pettepier made a key block as fourth-ranked Ankeny beat No. 1 Southeast Polk 47-45 to reach the Class 4A state championship game.

The Hawkettes will try for their 11th state title against No. 2 Iowa City West at 8 o’clock Saturday night. A victory in that game would give Ankeny coach Scott DeJong his seventh championship.

Ankeny and Southeast Polk split their two regular-season games, Ankeny winning 33-29 at midseason and Southeast Polk prevailing 55-31 in the regular-season finale. The Hawkettes improved to 22-3, while Southeast Polk finished 24-2.

The game turned out to be as intense and as close as expected.

Ankeny bolted to a 13-2 lead and led 18-8 after one quarter behind Maddie Muhlenbruck’s seven points. But Southeast Polk’s Caitlin Ingle led the Rams back into the game.

Ingle scored 11 points and had an assist in a 15-0 run that spanned halftime and pulled Southeast Polk into a 28-24 lead. Then the Hawkettes clawed back and when Manning hit a 3-pointer at the start of the fourth quarter, Ankeny went up 36-33 and never trailed again.

Manning, who has signed with Oklahoma, converted a three-point play on a drive to the basket to give Ankeny a 45-41 lead with 1:13 remaining. After Southeast Polk tied it at 45, Manning sank two free throws with 38.5 seconds left for the final points. Pettepier, who has signed with Pittsburgh, blocked Ingle’s shot in the lane moments later and the Hawkettes held on.

Manning finished with 13 points, Muhlenbruck scored 12 and Pettepier had 10 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Ingle led Southeast Polk with 18 points and Annie Panquite scored nine.