Jenna Twedt is ‘spectacular,’ and Benton Community is returning to girls’ state basketball tournament

VAN HORNE — There was a time in which Jenna Twedt may have shrunk from these circumstances.

“My freshman year, I got down on myself easily,” she said. “This (game) might have gotten to my head.”

That was then.

Twedt, in the words of Benton Community Coach Jeff Zittergruen, was “spectacular,” the supporting cast was solid, and the fourth-ranked Bobcats defeated West Liberty, 53-44, in a Class 3A girls’ basketball regional final Saturday night at Benton Community High School.

“My head is spinning right now,” said Twedt, who led all scorers with 33 points. “Our first goal was to get back (to the state tournament).”

But not just to get back.

“We’re nowhere near done,” junior McKenna Kramer said. “This is just the start. We’re working for that championship.”

Class 4A quarterfinalists last season, the Bobcats (21-3) will face No. 5 Des Moines Christian (21-3) in a first-round game at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27 at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines.

Twedt was a magician, and the Bobcats were clinicians, through most of the first half. A 19-0 run sent Benton to a 25-7 lead, and the Bobcats enjoyed their largest advantage at 31-12 on Twedt’s third 3-pointer of the half.

The Kirkwood Community College signee had 20 by intermission, and the Bobcats took a 31-16 advantage into the locker room.

“We did a really good job with what we wanted to do on defense,” Zittergruen said. “We wanted to stay in front of (West Liberty’s Kelsey) Joens, and we did a better job on their other shooters.”

When the teams met here Feb. 6, West Liberty had the advantage in supporting-cast impact in a 64-57 victory.

Not this time.

“They made shots, and we didn’t,” Comets Coach Courtney Joens said. “It was kind of the opposite from our first game. Their defense was a little more intense and sped us up.”

West Liberty (17-7), of course, made a push in the second half.

Kelsey Joens — an Iowa State University recruit and younger sister of Coach Joens — led the march. Her 3-pointer got the Comets within 37-30 with 1:35 left in the third quarter.

They got within eight points on two occasions in the fourth quarter, but the Bobcats answered both threats with 3-pointers — one by Twedt, one by Emma Townsley.

“Emma and McKenna hit some big shots for us tonight,” Zittergruen said. “And Jenna ... she was spectacular. She willed us to this one.”

Both teams started 3-for-3 from the field, but West Liberty missed its next 15 shots, and the Bobcats gained separation.

Joens, who transferred from Iowa City High to West Liberty late last summer to play for her sister, finished with 29 points and nine rebounds.

“We knew she was going to get her points,” Kramer said. “We were able to stop the other girls for the most part, and that was a good thing.”

BENTON COMMUNITY 53, WEST LIBERTY 44

Class 3A Regional Final, at Van Horne

WEST LIBERTY (44): Sophie Buysse 2-5 0-0 5, Finley Hall 2-10 0-0 5, Pearson Hall 0-6 1-2 1, Brooklyn Buysse 2-4 0-0 4, Kelsey Joens 11-22 5-6 29, Monica Morales 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 17-50 6-8 44.

BENTON COMMUNITY (53): Emma Townsley 2-5 0-0 6, Piper Nelson 1-2 0-0 3, McKenna Kramer 3-12 0-0 9, Jenna Twedt 11-24 6-7 33, Zoey Junge 1-3 0-0 3, Addison Phillips 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-47 6-7 53.

West Liberty 7 9 16 12 — 44

Benton Community 14 17 11 11 — 53

3-point goals: West Liberty 4-15 (S. Buysse 1-3, F. Hall 1-2, P. Hall 0-2, Joens 2-7 Morales 0-1), Benton 11-28 (Townsley 1-3, Nelson 1-2, Kramer 3-12, Twedt 5-8, Junge 1-3). Team fouls: West Liberty 12, Benton 11. Fouled out: Townsley. Rebounds: West Liberty 26 (Joens 9), Benton 36 (Junge, Phillips 9). Assists: West Liberty 4 (four with 1), Benton 8 (Townsley 3). Steals: West Liberty 6 (Joens 2), Benton 5 (Twedt 4). Turnovers: West Liberty 7, Benton 13.

Solon 58, Mount Vernon 44

Kobi Lietz hit six 3-pointers and scored 22 points, and the second-ranked Spartans jumped on their Highway 1 rivals early.

The Spartans (22-2) advance to state for the first time since 2006. They’ll face No. 8 Dubuque Wahlert (18-6) in the first round at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27.

Hailey Miller added 14 points, University of Iowa recruit Callie Levin tallied 11, and Solon defeated No. 11 Mount Vernon (16-8) for the third time this season.

The Spartans led, 20-11, after one quarter, and maintained the advantage the rest of the way.

Chloe Meester scored 18 points for the Mustangs.

Vinton-Shellsburg 52, Grinnell 43

Leading by one point at halftime, No. 10 Vinton-Shellsburg stretched it with a big third quarter, and advanced to state for the first time since 1999.

The Vikettes (17-7) will face No. 1 Estherville-Lincoln Central (24-0) in a quarterfinal at 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com