South Tama gives No. 1 Ballard a challenge

DES MOINES -- The South Tama Trojans left their locker room with dry eyes and chins held high.

"It doesn't feel like a loss," said Kendra Bradley.

Tenth-ranked South Tama pushed No. 1 Ballard hard throughout, but a 12-0 run by the Bombers allowed them to advance with a 46-39 Class 3A quarterfinal triumph at the girls' state basketball tournament Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Arena.

Stanford signee Taylor Greenfield scored 15 of her game-high 17 points in the second half as Ballard (24-1) advanced to face No. 4 Davenport Assumption (23-2) in Thursday's semifinal round. Assumption defeated Sergeant Bluff-Luton, 67-60, Tuesday.

"We made a couple big plays in that big run and that got us rolling," Greenfield said. "Then we got their big girl (6-foot-4 Madison Baier) into foul trouble and that gave us an extra urge to take the ball to the basket.

South Tama (22-3) led 28-24 when Bradley connected from long range with 4:30 left in the third quarter, but Greenfield triggered the 12-point run with nine points and a block that led to a layup by Sammy Jensen.

Bradley struck from deep again to get the Trojans within 37-34 with 3:15 to go, but the Bombers stifled the rally at that point.

If this was supposed to be a mismatch, the Trojans weren't buying it.

"We weren't going to lay down for them," Baier said. "We were going to give them a challenge."

And with all five starters returning for 2011-12, this could be a springboard for the Trojans.

"I know we'll be back," Baier said.

Bradley led the Trojans with 11 points. South Tama was 8 of 15 from 3-point range.

Four of the treys came in the first 5 minutes as the Trojans jumped to a 12-4 lead.

Greenfield picked up her second foul at the 6:33 mark of the second quarter, but the Trojans couldn't capitalize.

They led 16-12, then Baier was whistled for her second personal with 4:04 left in the half. With both teams' top players sitting until intermission, the Bombers went on a 7-2 run and led 19-18 at intermission.

"(The foul trouble) sucked," said Baier, who posted eight points and nine rebounds. "I had to watch out and be careful."

Despite Ballard's length, South Tama managed a 31-18 rebounding advantage. But that was neutralized by the Trojans' 22 turnovers. Ballard had just seven.

AT DES MOINES

SOUTH TAMA (39): Kendra Bradley 4-5 0-0 11, Kaleigh Sieck 2-4 0-0 6, Kourtne Smith 1-3 0-0 3, Dia Keahna 2-8 1-2 7, Madison Baier 3-9 2-4 8, Megan Wanatee 0-1 0-0 0, Jade Rohach 1-2 2-2 4, Kayla Schrader 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 13-33 5-8 39.

BALLARD (46): Sierra McVicker 0-2 0-0 0, Sammy Jensen 2-9 3-5 7, Devynn Roberts 0-0 1-2 1, Taylor Greenfield 8-17 0-0 17, Sidney Jamison 1-2 0-0 2, Kristy Carr 0-0 2-2 2, Rachel Sage 2-5 2-2 8, Grace Hall 2-4 0-0 4, Katie Ahrenholtz 1-2 3-7 5. Totals 16-41 11-18 46.

Halftime: Ballard 19, South Tama 18. 3-point goals: South Tama 8-15 (Bradley 3-4, Sieck 2-3, Smith 1-1, Keahna 2-6, Wanatee 0-1), Ballard 3-17 (McVicker 0-2, Jensen 0-5, Greenfield 1-6, Sage 2-4). Team fouls: South Tama 14, Bradley 12. Fouled out: Baier. Rebounds: South Tama 31 (Baier 9), Ballard 18 (Greenfield 4). Assists: South Tama 8 (Keahna 3), Ballard 6 (Greenfield 3). Steals: South Tama 2 (Sieck, Baier), Ballard 12 (Greenfield 5). Turnovers: South Tama 22, Ballard 7.

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