Breakthrough for Williamsburg: Raiders hold off Des Moines Christian for first state-tournament win

DES MOINES — Much of the ink on Carly Rich’s arm had worn off.

Look close enough, and it was still visible.

Three words: Bigger Than Us.

“Everything I do, I do it for my team, for my community, for my coach, for my dad,” Rich said.

Here’s what wasn’t bigger than them:

The moment.

Third-ranked Williamsburg earned its girls’ basketball breakthrough Tuesday morning, holding off No. 9 Des Moines Christian, 52-49, in a Class 3A state quarterfinal at Wells Fargo Arena.

“It’s what we’ve been working for, for the last four years,” Rich said. “To come here and win a game.”

The victory was the first in program history. Williamsburg got here in 2006, 2008 and 2014, and was one-and-out each time.

Not this time. The Raiders (24-2) built a 10-point lead in the third quarter, thanks to an 11-0 run to open the second half.

Then they answered when Des Moines Christian (21-4) tied the game at 40-40 and 42-42 midway through the fourth quarter.

They’ll face No. 2 Dubuque Wahlert at 3:15 Thursday afternoon in a 3A semifinal.

“It feels so amazing,” junior Zoe Allen said. “Win or lose, we’re going to be the same no matter what.”

Part of the Bigger Than Us movement remains the loss of Tate Schaefer, four years ago.

“He was in my grade, and he was one of my best friends,” Allen said. “If we was here, he would have been in the front row today, cheering for us.”

There has been plenty to cheer for Tuesday, and all season, really.

Two years ago, in Stephanie Dacey’s first year as coach, the Raiders were 5-17. Last year, it was 14-9. And now, 24-2.

“This group loves going to work together,” Dacey said. “They’re special. We get to spend a little more time together with dinners and bus rides.”

As Stephanie Rich, Dacey won three consecutive state championships at Washington (Iowa) from 1999 through 2001. So Tuesday marked her 10th consecutive win in state-tournament competition.

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“This is my first time doing this (as a coach),” Dacey said. “I appreciate this team for helping me reach my dream, too.”

Williamsburg was slow out of the gate, and trailed 11-4 midway through the first quarter. Rich banked home a 30-footer at the end of the period to get the Raiders even at 12-12.

DMC led 23-22 at halftime, but four different Raiders scored in that 11-0 run to open the second half.

Williamsburg took a 37-29 advantage into the fourth quarter, but Lauren Schmaltz’s basket knotted it at 40-40, then Addy Oetker’s drive made it 42-42 with 3:55 to go.

It was a pivotal moment, which wasn’t too big for the Raiders.

Rich hit the second of two free throws to break the tie with 3:42 to go, then converted on a reverse layup to make it 45-42.

A steal by Kennedy Skaggs turned into a layup by Makenna Hughes, then Rich split free throws again to put Williamsburg up 48-42 with 1:47 to go.

Rich’s runner made it 50-44, then she iced it with two free throws at 0:24.

A major part of Williamsburg’s back-to-back state softball titles, Rich led the Raiders with 19 points. Allen added 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Ava Hocker posted seven points and 10 boards.

Oetker led Des Moines Christian with 20 points (on a variety of creative drives to the basket) and 13 rebounds, but committed 10 turnovers. Ellie Owen scored 15 points.

Williamsburg 52, Des Moines Christian 49

Class 3A State Quarterfinal, at Des Moines

DES MOINES CHRISTIAN (49): Addy Oetker 8-15 4-8 20, Claire Kirkman 0-2 0-0 0, Meg Muller 0-1 0-0 0, Ellie Owen 5-10 2-3 15, Etta Fish 0-3 3-4 3, Brynn Van Mersbergen 2-4 2-7 6, Katie Hall 0-1 0-0 0, Mya Nerem 0-0 0-0 0, Lauren Schmaltz 2-4 0-0 5. Totals 17-40 11-22 49.

WILLIAMSBURG (52): Carly Rich 7-15 4-7 19, Zoe Allen 6-11 0-1 12, Makenna Hughes 2-2 0-2 4, Ava Hocker 2-12 2-2 7, Kennedy Skaggs 1-8 0-2 3, Kylee Suhr 1-2 0-0 2, Channing Becker 1-3 0-0 3, Taylor Sanchez 1-4 0-1 2. Totals 21-57 6-15 52.

Des Moines Christian 12 11 6 20 — 49

Williamsburg 12 10 15 15 — 52

3-point goals: DMC 4-15 (Oetker 0-3, Owen 3-7, Fish 0-2, Van Mersbergen 0-1, Schmaltz 1-2), Williamsburg 4-19 (Rich 1-4, Hocker 1-3, Skaggs 1-6, Becker 1-3, Sanchez 0-3). Team fouls: DMC 17, Williamsburg 19. Fouled out: Hocker. Rebounds: DMC 36 (Oetker 13), Williamsburg 35 (Allen, Hocker 10). Assists: DMC 6 (Oetker 3), Williamsburg 6 (Hocker 3). Steals: DMC 9 (Oetker 3), Williamsburg 13 (Rich, Allen 3). Turnovers: DMC 20, Williamsburg 12.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com