The Exira-EHK Spartans girls basketball team is back to the state semifinals for the second straight season and the third time in four years. They will now take on the two-time defending Class 1A champion and a team that has been in the final the past three years, Springville. The Orioles pose a big challenge but the Spartans are excited for the opportunity. After their first round win over AGWSR, Spartan Head Coach Tom Petersen said, “This is where you want to be, you make it to the final four, i mean, three out of the last four years, it says a lot, I’m touched, I love my kids, It’s pretty special what they’ve done.”

Springville is led by two double-figure scorers, seniors Rylee Menster and Mikayla Nachazel. Menster is averaging 17 points per game and Nachazel is dropping 16 points and grabbing 7 rebounds per outing. The senior class is obviously well tested and very accomplished. Madi Wagaman and Alyssa Jaeger are two other seniors that make a big impact in the starting lineup.  The Orioles won their quarterfinal round game in easy fashion 54-36 over Algona Bishop Garrigan. The Orioles are 22-3 on the season.

Exira-EHK will counter with two senior leaders. Sophia Peppers is averaging 19 points and 8 rebounds per game and she had 25 points in the quarterfinal win over AGWSR. Kealey Nelson is averaging 16 points and 5 rebounds per game and she was a big impact player in the second half of their opening win. The Spartans won that first round game 57-47 over the Cougars after pulling away in the fourth quarter. The Spartans come into the semis with a 23-1 record.

We’ll have coverage of the Spartans and the Orioles today on KJAN. Join Chris Parks and Mike Smith for the call with pregame at 12:30pm and tip-off at 1:30pm from Des Moines. Tune in on-air, online, or on the app.