CLASS 1-A SEMI-FINALS:

Springville 68, Exira/EHK 57

Springville’s smallest player and one of its youngest carried the Orioles to the Class 1A championship game.

The 11th-ranked Orioles raced to a 19-2 lead, then held off a spirited comeback by No. 2 Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton for a 68-57 semifinal victory that ended the Spartans’ unbeaten season.

Springville improved to 22-3 and will play No. 7 Newell-Fonda in the championship game at 6 p.m. Friday. It’s a rematch of the 2008 title game, which Springville won 67-60. Springville also reached the finals in 2009, when it lost a one-point game to AGWSR.

Sarah Matus, a 5-foot senior, hit six 3-pointers and led Springville with 23 points. Freshman Rylee Menster scored 19 on 7-of-9 shooting, made seven steals and combined with Matus to foil the Spartans’ comeback attempt.

Another freshman, Mikayla Nachazel, added 14 points for the Orioles, while junior Megan Wagaman has six points and 11 rebounds.

Freshman Sophia Peppers led Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton (25-1) with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Mara Burmeister scored 14 points, Maggie Rasmussen 11 and Rachel Smith 10. Rasmussen also grabbed 10 rebounds and Burmeister made five steals.

Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton missed its first 11 shots and found itself trailing 25-6 at one point. But the Spartans never gave up and they twice got within four points, the first time at 35-31 midway through a third quarter.

But an odd technical foul that occurred as the Spartans were making a substitution blunted their momentum and Matus rattled off seven quick points — a free throw on the technical and two straight 3-pointers — for a 42-31 lead.

The Spartans charged back again and consecutive 3s by Burmeister drew them to 43-39. Springville didn’t let them get any closer. Menster and Matus combined for all of their team’s points in a 12-2 run that upped the lead to 55-41 and put the Orioles out of danger. Menster drove for three layups after stealing the ball in that burst and Matus knocked down a pair of 3-pointers.

Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton made the state tournament for the first time as a combined program, which formed after Exira won the state championship in 2010.

CLASS 2-A SEMI-FINALS:

Unity Christian 58, South Central Calhoun 47

Unity Christian is getting another chance to win a state championship.

The top-ranked and unbeaten Knights pulled away at the end of the first half and rolled to a 58-42 victory over No. 6 South Central Calhoun to earn a spot in the Class 2A title game.

Chanda Zomermaand led Unity (26-0) with 22 points on some sharp shooting. The 5-foot-7 junior went 4-for-6 from 3-point range, shot 5-for-8 overall and made 8 of her 9 free throws.

Deidra Noteboom came off the bench to add 12 points and seven rebounds for the Knights, who lost to MOC-Floyd Valley in last year’s Class 3A championship game. Kassidy De Jong had 10 points and seven boards in the winning effort, while Anna Kiel was solid with seven points, eight rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Zomermaand hit two 3-pointers to spark a 13-2 Unity run that closed the first half and produced a 30-15 lead. That proved to be all the cushion the Knights needed. The lead was never below 10 points in the second half and the Knights stayed in control by making eight straight free throws down the stretch.

Haley Birks and Tyffaney Toms scored 11 points each to lead South Central Calhoun (23-3), which made the tournament for the first time in its current makeup as a district. Kori Assman had eight points, five rebounds and three assists for the Titans, who continued to hustle but couldn’t overcome their scoring drought late in the first half.

North Linn 73, Western Christian 71 (OT)

CLASS 3-A SEMI-FINALS:

CLASS 4-A SEMI-FINALS:

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has rescheduled a public meeting over the Iowa Communications Network for March 25 from 6 to 9 p.m., to listen to the public’s thoughts on the hunting and trapping regulations for this fall. Meetings will be held in Atlantic, Boone, Calmar, Chariton, Clear Lake, Council Bluffs, Creston, Dubuque, Eldridge, Johnston, Marshalltown, Monroe, Ottumwa, Sac City, Sergeant Bluff, Sheldon, Spencer, Tiffin, Tripoli and West Burlington.

Complete ICN locations are available online at www.iowadnr.gov/hunting. The meetings are part of the process for making rules in state government. At each meeting DNR staff will facilitate a discussion about what went well last fall, what didn’t, and what changes hunters and trappers would like to see for this fall.

These discussions along with the data that the wildlife bureau collects on harvest and population numbers will be used to develop recommendations for any rule changes this fall. Any changes must be approved by the Natural Resource Commission and then go back to the public for further comment before taking effect next fall.

With Ric Hanson.

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With Ric Hanson and Jim Field.

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ST. LOUIS (AP) — No. 8 Wichita State is back as the top seed in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. The Shockers (27-3, 17-1) opens the tourney Friday against the winner of the play-in game between the eighth and ninth seeds, Missouri State (11-19, 5-13) and Southern Illinois (11-20, 4-14) on Thursday night. Northern Iowa (27-3, 16-2) faces either Drake (9-21, 6-12) and Bradley (8-23, 3-15) on Friday night.

Guards Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet, second and third in balloting for Valley player of the year, have been keys to Wichita State’s continued success despite breaking in eight new players. Forward Tekele Cotton was named the conference top defensive player for the second straight season.

Class 1-A Semi-Finals:

10:00-a.m. Exira/Elk Horn Kimballton vs. Springville (ON KJAN Beginning at 9-a.m.)

Class 2-A Semi-Finals:

11:45-a.m. Unity Christian vs. South Central Calhoun

1:30-p.m. North Linn vs. Western Christian

Class 3-A Semi-Finals:

3:15-p.m. Mediapolis vs. Nevada

5:00-p.m. Crestwood vs. Pocahontas Area

Class 4-A Semi-Finals:

6:45-p.m. Carlisle vs. Harlan

8:30-p.m. Bishop Heelan vs. Western Dubuque

Class 4-A Quarter-Finals:

• Bishop Heelan Catholic 70, Ballard 67
• Western Dubuque 51, Indianola 30

Class 5-A Quarter-Finals:

• West Des Moines Valley 65, Mason City 42
• Iowa City West 43, Southeast Polk 40
• Dowling Catholic 58, Johnston 52
• Waukee 61, Cedar Falls 47

Class 1-A Semi-Finals:

• Newell-Fonda 63, Burlington Notre Dame 56

IRVING, Texas – Iowa State women’s basketball senior point guard Nikki Moody was named a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 first-team, while sophomore guard Seanna Johnson and senior guard Brynn Williamson earned honorable mention honors.

Moody, a Dallas, Texas native, was a first-team pick after averaging 14.4 points and 6.9 assists. In conference play, Moody’s 6.9 assists per game ranked second in the Big 12 and ninth nationally. She also broke the Iowa State career assists record with 733 career assists and counting. Her 733 assists ranks sixth in Big 12 history.

Moody, who tallied double figures in a team-high 21 games this season, led Iowa State in scoring in 13 games and in assists in 25. Moody is averaged 17.4 points and 7.3 assists over the last 14 conference games. This is Moody’s first time on the All-Big 12 first-team as she was named to the second team in 2013-14.

Johnson, who was an honorable mention selection, is the Big 12’s leading rebounder with 9.2 boards per game. She also is averaging 11.5 points per contest this season. She has rebounded in double-figures in 14 games this season and led the Cyclones in rebounding in 21 games. This is Johnson’s second-straight Big 12 honor, as the sophomore guard was named to the All-Big 12 freshman team last season. Johnson is one of two Cyclones to start every game this season.

Williamson, who earned honorable mention honors for the first time in her career, averaged 11.4 points and was second on the team with 6.2 rebounds per game. She scored in double figures in 18 games this season and netted a team-high 72 3-pointers this season. Williamson also started every game for the Cyclones this season.

2014-15 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Awards
Coach of the Year: Kim Mulkey, Baylor (15th season)
Player of the Year: Nina Davis, Baylor, F, 5-11, So, Memphis, Tenn.
Freshman of the Year: Gabbi Ortiz, Oklahoma, G, 5-9, Fr, Racine, Wis.
Newcomer of the Year: Peyton Little, Oklahoma, G, 5-11, So, Abilene, Texas
Defensive Player of the Year: Chelsea Prince, TCU, F, 5-11, Sr, Fort Worth, Texas
Sixth Man Award: Khadijiah Cave, Baylor, C, 6-2, So, Augusta, Ga.

All-Big 12 First Team (all honors listed alphabetical by school)
Nina Davis**! Baylor F 5-11 So Memphis, Tenn.
Niya Johnson** Baylor G 5-8 Jr Gainesville, Fla.
Nikki Moody**^ Iowa State G 5-8 Sr Dallas, Texas
Chelsea Gardner**! Kansas F 6-3 Sr DeSoto, Texas
Peyton Little Oklahoma G 5-11 So Abilene, Texas
Brittney Martin** Oklahoma State G 6-0 Jr Syracuse, Utah
Zahna Medley! TCU G 5-6 Jr Springfield, Ill.
Imani McGee-Stafford^ Texas C 6-7 Jr Los Angeles, Calif.
Amber Battle^ Texas Tech G 5-9 Sr Albuquerque, N.M.
Bria Holmes**! West Virginia G 6-1 Jr New Haven, Conn.

All-Big 12 Second Team
Breanna Lewis K-State F 6-5 So Milwaukee, Wis.
Gioya Carter Oklahoma G 5-9 So Midwest City, Okla.
Kaylon Williams Oklahoma F 6-3 Jr Midwest City, Okla.
Veja Hamilton TCU G/F 5-10 Jr Spring, Texas
Kelsey Lang Texas C 6-5 So The Woodlands, Texas

All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
Sune Agbuke (Baylor), Imani Wright (Baylor), Seanna Johnson (Iowa State), Brynn Williamson (Iowa State), Asia Boyd (Kansas), Natalie Knight (Kansas), Ashia Woods (K-State), Sharane Campbell-Olds (Oklahoma), Liz Donohoe (Oklahoma State), LaShawn Jones (Oklahoma State), Chelsea Prince (TCU), Nneka Enemkpali (Texas), Brady Sanders (Texas), Averee Fields (West Virginia)

Big 12 All-Defensive Team
Sune Agbuke Baylor C 6-4 Sr San Antonio, Texas
Breanna Lewis K-State F 6-5 So Milwaukee, Wis.
Sharane Campbell-Olds Oklahoma G 5-10 Sr Spencer, Okla.
Brittney Martin Oklahoma State G 6-0 Jr Syracuse, Utah
Chelsea Prince TCU F 5-11 Sr Fort Worth, Texas

Big 12 All-Freshman Team
Kristy Wallace** Baylor G 5-11 Loganholme, Queesnland, Australia
Lauren Aldridge Kansas G 5-7 Marshfield, Mo.
Gabbi Ortiz Oklahoma G 5-9 Racine, Wis.
Ariel Atkins Texas G 5-11 Duncanville, Texas
Brooke McCarty Texas G 5-4 League City, Texas

** Unanimous First Team Selection (coaches cannot vote for own players, unanimous denotes voted first team by other nine coaches)
! 2013-14 All Big 12 First Team Selection
^ 2013-14 All-Big 12 Second Team Selection

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The new flat-seam ball in college baseball is having the desired effect, with teams hitting 40 percent more home runs so far this season. The NCAA announced Wednesday that teams are hitting a home run about every other game. Last year, teams homered about once every three games through the first three weeks of the season.

The actual average is 0.47 home runs per team compared with 0.33 at this point in 2014. Last season’s final average of 0.39 per team was a record low. The NCAA approved use of the flat-seam ball in an attempt to punch up a game that has seen steep declines in offense since new bat standards took effect in 2011. Studies show the flat-seam ball travels 20 feet farther than the old raised-seam ball.

Janet Waterbury from Schaller, Norwalk’s Jill Martin and Tri-Center, Neola’s Wendy Ausdemore are the 2015 inductees into the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union’s Basketball Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame ceremony will take place at halftime of the Class 4A State Championship game Saturday, March 7.

Janet Waterbury

Waterbury torched the nets for 3,390 career points for Schaller from 1960 to 1964. Her skills helped Schaller qualify for the only state tournament berths in school history in 1963 and 64.

Waterbury was named to the all-tournament team at the 1963 State Tournament Team despite playing in just one game, a 62-60 loss to Farragut where she scored 31 points.

She led Schaller back to the 1964 state tournament, scoring 44 points in first round loss to Wellsburg squad.

Wendy Ausdemore

Ausdemore played at Tri-Center, Neola from 2001 to 2005 and was named Miss Iowa Basketball in 2005. She was a two-time first-team all-state selection. She led Tri-Center to a runner-up finish in Class 2A in 2005, earning captain of the 2A all-tournament team. Ausdemore finished her career with 1,812 points and 886 career rebounds.

Ausdemore went on to play college basketball at the University of Iowa, twice earning third-team all-Big Ten honors and was a three-time academic all-conference pick. A three-year starter, Ausdemore played on three NCAA Tournament teams with the Hawkeyes. She finished her career ranked among Iowa’s top 10 in career scoring, rebounding, assists and three-pointers.

Jill Martin

Martin was a two-time Class 3A player of the year her junior and season seasons at Norwalk, averaging a double-double in points and rebounds. As a senior, she averaged 24.3 points and 11.2 rebounds in leading the Warriors to the state semifinals, where she averaged 21.5 points and 10.5 points in two games.

Martin finished her high school career with 1,628 points with 775 career rebounds.

Martin enjoyed similar success at Drake. A four-year starter, Martin was the fourth player in Drake’s history to earn first-team All Missouri Valley Conference honors three times. After missing most of the 2006-07 season with a back injury, she returned from the injury to average 16.8 points, 9 rebounds and the led the MVC in double-doubles. Martin is just one of five players in Drake history with 1,000 career rebounds.

Martin went on to play three years of basketball overseas but has returned to her hometown, teaching fourth grade at Lakewood Elementary and is the junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant for the Warriors.