'Security blanket' leads Sigourney past Cedar Valley

MARENGO — Now, it gets tough. Really, really tough.

Sierra Davis scored 29 points, and Autum Barthelman made the key shot down the stretch as Sigourney ended the most successful girls' basketball season in Cedar Valley Christian history, 64-59, in a Class 1A regional quarterfinal Tuesday night at Iowa Valley High School.

'Sierra is so steady,' said Savages Coach Andy Harter. 'We call her our security blanket. When we need a shot, she's going to take it.'

Sigourney (14-9) advances to face No. 3 Springville in a regional final Friday night at Springville. The Orioles (21-1), state runners-up last year, downed Tri-County, 60-23, Tuesday.

It's a tough assignment. Really, really tough.

'I purposefully haven't looked at them yet,' Harter said. 'I know it's going to be tough.'

Cedar Valley Christian retired at 10-12. But Huskies Coach Ron Slagle doesn't consider this the end.

'We weren't able to capitalize on some opportunities,' Slagle said. 'But we didn't lose tonight. This season will continue. We're just building the foundation for the future.'

Cedar Valley senior Candace Wilson said, 'This season was huge. We made memories I'll never forget. We won some games we weren't supposed to win.'

One of them was a first-round regional win over Iowa Valley. The Huskies put themselves in position for more magic Tuesday, rallying all night after a quick Sigourney start, ultimately tying the game at 53-53 on Elisabeth Fields' layup with 3:30 to go.

But Barthelman answered immediately with a 3-pointer, and the Savages led the rest of the way.

Wilson's basket made it 56-55, then Sigourney scored the next six points to pull away for good.

Davis hit a pair of 3-pointers, and Sigourney had 11 points on the board with just 70 seconds elapsed, and took its largest lead at 18-7 midway through the first quarter. It was 35-28 at halftime, then the Huskies chipped within two points by the end of the third quarter.

Barthelman added 12 points and six assists for the Savages; Brooke Waechter registered 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Wilson hit 10 of 15 shots from the floor and paced Cedar Valley with 25 points. Molly Hembera posted 19 points, and Maggie Cach snagged 11 rebounds.

SIGOURNEY 64, CEDAR VALLEY CHRISTIAN 59

At Marengo

SIGOURNEY (64): Sierra Davis 9-22 8-10 29, Leah Carter 0-8 0-4 0, Brooke Waechter 4-10 0-0 11, Autum Barthelman 2-11 7-8 12, Anna Ohland 1-4 1-2 3, Summer Barthelman 2-7 0-0 5, Jordan Van Ee 1-2 0-0 2, Sloane Magill 0-1 0-0 0, Savhannah White 0-1 0-0 0, Paige Thompson 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 20-68 16-24 64.

CEDAR VALLEY CHRISTIAN (59): Megan Slagle 0-3 0-0 0, Emma Slagle 3-5 0-0 8, Molly Hembera 8-14 2-2 19, Maggie Cach 2-16 1-2 5, Candace Wilson 10-15 3-4 25, Elisabeth Fields 1-7 0-0 2, Emily Masterson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-61 6-8 59.

Halftime: Sigourney 35, CVCS 28. 3-point goals: Sigourney 8-24 (Davis 3-10, Carter 0-1, Waechter 3-6, A.Barthelman 1-5, S.Barthelman 1-2), CVCS 5-15 (M.Slagle 0-1, E.Slagle 2-4, Hembera 1-2, Cach 0-2, Wilson 2-3, Fields 0-3). Team fouls: Sigourney 12, CVCS 17. Fouled out: E.Slagle. Rebounds: Sigourney 46 (Waechter 10), CVCS 42 (Cach 11). Assists: Sigourney 11 (A.Barthelman 6), CVCS 12 (Hembera 3). Steals: Sigourney 10 (Waechter, A.Barthelman 3), CVCS 4 (four with 1). Turnovers: Sigourney 8, CVCS 16.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com