No. 1 Springville returning to state tourney

Defending champion plods past Midland

 By John Riehl  The Gazette   ANAMOSA - It was not a thing of beauty, but Springville does not care.   The top-ranked Orioles are returning to Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines to defend their state championship after winning a foul-fest of a Class 1A regional final over Mid land, 63-55, last night.   “We didn't play our best game tonight,” Springville Coach Brian O'Donnell said. “The thing that was important was our kids played when they had to. We make some mistakes, but the kids come through when they have to.” The Orioles (24-1) never trailed after the first three minutes and kept the Eagles (20-6) at a safe distance during a parade to the foul line.   Springville shot an amaz ing 60 free throws, making 38. Senior forward Katie Eiben made 13 of 14 foul shots in her game-high 21-point performance. Midland converted 20 of 25 free throws.   Eiben and her teammates next will play 13th-ranked Martensdale-St. Mary's in a state tournament first-round game Monday at 5 p.m.   “This feels great. We would have been really disappointed if we didn't make it,” Eiben said.   Springville got enough freethrow practice for an entire game in the first half, making 15 of 21 attempts to take a 28-20 lead into the locker room.   The Orioles could have had more of a cushion, but Midland scored the final seven points of the half after Eiben's two free throws gave Springville a 2813 lead with 2:25 remaining.   Caitlin Bisinger, who scored 15 points, made the first basket of the second half, pulling the Eagles within 28-22.   Springville responded by scoring the next seven points to build a 13-point advantage. Senior forward Sarah Davidson had five of her 18 points during that stretch. Midland never mounted a serious charge after that run.   The Orioles, who beat the Eagles, 67-54, Dec. 13, have won 28 straight games against 1A teams.   “We try to take one step at a time and not worry about two games ahead,” Eiben said.   That philosophy has worked well for the defending state champions.   Springville will arrive in Des Moines as the hunted team in Class 1A, but that's just find with the Orioles.   “The thing we keep saying is last year was last year and it can't be taken away,” O'Donnell said. “We talk about going out and trying to make our own mark.”   Contact the writer: (319) 3393177 or

john.riehl@gazcomm.com