Big second half sends IKM-Manning past Bellevue

DES MOINES -- Tember Schechinger filled a stat line, and IKM-Manning overcame a halftime deficit to advance at the girls' state basketball tournament.

Schechinger posted 23 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists and five steals as the third-ranked Wolves pulled away from No. 14 Bellevue, 71-55, in a Class 2A quarterfinal Tuesday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena.

"We knew we needed to pick it up, and it really showed in the third quarter," Schechinger said.

Down 31-29 at the half, IKM-Manning (24-2) scored 24 points in the third period to take a 53-44 lead, then continued to build the margin from there.

The Wolves (24-2) advance to play No. 15 Pella Christian in a semifinal at 1:45 p.m. Thursday. The Eagles (22-3) upset West Hancock, 66-63, Tuesday.

Kaylee Blake added 12 points, Morgan Muhlbauer 10 for the winners, who have suffered their only two losses this season to No. 1 Ida Grove OA-BCIG. Both went overtime.

Bellevue retired at 25-1, but the Comets proved they belonged. They led through most of the first half before IKM-Manning exerted its might after intermission.

"Everyone doubted us," said Kelsey Ernst, who led Bellevue with 19 points and 10 rebounds. "We were a lot closer than I think most people expected us to be."

Ali Reeg added 14 points and eight assists. Reeg and Ernst are two of four starters that will return for 2012-13.

IKM-MANNING 71, BELLEVUE 55

At Des Moines

BELLEVUE (55): Emily Anderson 2-3 2-2 6, Mariah Steines 1-4 2-4 4, Ali Reeg 3-11 7-12 14, Kelsey Ernst 8-12 3-5 19, Carly Rubel 2-7 0-0 4, Rachel Kilburg 0-0 0-0 0, Lexee Sullivan 0-1 0-0 0, Katelyn Steines 0-0 0-0 0, Ashley Giesemann 3-6 2-5 8, Nicole Beckley 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-44 16-28 55.

IKM-MANNING (71): Sarah Schlichte 0-1 0-0 0, Lynsie Sievertsen 3-11 1-1 7, Tember Schechinger 9-16 5-6 23, Liz Halbur 4-7 0-0 8, Kaylee Blake 4-8 4-5 12, Kali Rasmussen 0-1 0-0 0, Kenzie Cast 1-2 0-0 3, Jez Schechinger 0-0 0-0 0, Morgan Muhlbauer 4-9 0-0 10, Jody Hagedorn 2-5 2-4 6, Andy Nulle 0-0 0-0 0, Katelyn Schechinger 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 28-61 12-16 71.

Halftime: Bellevue 31, IKM-Manning 29.

3-point goals: Bellevue 1-7 (Reeg 1-7), IKM-Manning 3-10 (Sievertsen 0-2, T.Schechinger 0-1, Rasmussen 0-1, Cast 1-2, Muhlbauer 2-4).

Team fouls: Bellevue 19, IKM-Manning 22.

Fouled out: Reeg, Muhlbauer.

Rebounds: Bellevue 33 (Rubel 12), IKM-Manning 34 (T.Schechinger 15).

Assists: Bellevue 8 (Reeg 7), IKM-Manning 20 (T.Schechinger 9).

Steals: Bellevue 6 (Ernst 3), IKM-Manning 17 (T.Schechinger 5).

Turnovers: Bellevue 19, IKM-Manning 9.