North Mahaska 40, Bedford 31

Some sharp long-range shooting was just what North Mahaska needed to top off a perfect season.

Hannah Ferguson and Abbie Agan combined to go 7-for-9 from 3-point range in leading the top-ranked Warhawks to the Class 1A state championship with a 40-31 victory over No. 3 Bedford.

It was the first state title for North Mahaska, which finished 28-0. Bedford closed an outstanding season with a 26-2 record.

Ferguson went 4-for-5 from 3-point range and led all scorers with 16 points. She also made four straight free throws at the end to secure the victory.

Agan was 3-for-4 from long range to finish with nine points, while all-tournament captain Mallory Boyle had 11 points, five rebounds and two steals.

Caila Raymond led Bedford with 10 points. Savanna Thornton scored nine and Kendyl Gruttemeyer grabbed 10 rebounds while scoring seven points. Kayla Lindenmeyer had four points, five assists and seven rebounds for the Bulldogs.

Ferguson knocked down three 3-pointers and Agan one to help North Mahaska build a 16-12 lead at halftime. Bedford tied the score twice after that, but North Mahaska never fell behind.

The final tie came when Gruttemeyer’s layup made it 26-all midway through the fourth quarter. Agan broke the tie with a 3, Boyle hit a free throw and Agan knocked down another 3 that made it 33-26 and all but finished off the Bulldogs.

Bedford did get to within four points twice, the last time at 35-31 on Raymond’s layup with 1:10 left. But Agan sank a free throw and Ferguson made four straight at the line to finish it off.

Ferguson, Raymond and Lindenmeyer joined Boyle on the all-tournament team, along with Katelin Langel of Le Mars Gehlen Catholic and Dana Weerheim of West Sioux.