Playing in the state tournament is a Stulken family trait

DES MOINES — The goal Saturday night for Ryan Stulken is 13 points. At least.

That's what the Cedar Rapids Xavier senior forward must score to keep his sister, Ashley, from continuing to talk familial smack. Actually, Ryan needs his team to win the Class 3A state championship basketball game more.

'I'm sick of her bragging,' Ryan Stulken said.

Ashley Stulken was a member of Xavier's 2013 girls' team that won a state championship. She scored 13 points in the title game against Harlan.

Ryan Stulken's Saints faceoff against Mississippi Valley Conference parochial rival Dubuque Wahlert for the 3A boys' title Saturday night at 6:05 at Wells Fargo Arena. Pretty cool thing about this brother-sister combo.

But it gets even better.

Doug Stulken, Ryan and Ashley's father, played in the state tournament for Vinton in 1986. The Vikings lost in the first round.

Their mom, Karen Turley Stulken, was on a Waterloo Columbus team that played in the 1985 tourney. The Sailors were runner-up that year, the final year of six-on-six play.

Basketball, successful basketball, is obviously a Stulken thing.

Ryan, by the way, has had a terrific tournament thus far for Xavier. He came in averaging a smidgen over six points per game but had 12 in the Saints' quarterfinal win over Spirit Lake and 11 Thursday night in a win over top-ranked Pella.

'I just kind of want to live up to the expectations,' he said. 'It's been a lot of fun. My family has actually kind of helped because they've all experienced this before. They told me to be calm, don't try and be tremendous. Just play within yourself, just be calm. It's worked so far.'

ANAMOSA FINISHES 4TH IN CLASS 2A

The best season in Anamosa boys' basketball history didn't end with a victory, but there should be no shame in that. Pella Christian shot the lights out, placing five players in double figures, and outlasted Anamosa in overtime, 77-73, in Friday morning's Class 2A consolation game.

The Blue Raiders end with a 21-7 record, but more importantly a lifetime of great memories. This was Anamosa's first state tournament trip, and it won its quarterfinal game Tuesday.

'These guys have taken us on an incredible journey,' Coach Kevin Barnes said.

There were 11 seniors on the team, so Barnes will be starting from scratch next season. Those seniors played together since they were in elementary school.

'We started in third grade, been playing together since and had so many championships,' said Anamosa's Cole Jamison. 'That just showed throughout the high-school level. We just have that bond together, that connection that makes us play well together. It's the last day, but I don't want it to be.'

Kolin Schulte led Anamosa with 27 points. Tyler Zumbach added 20.

'The future for them looks great,' Barnes said. 'Unfortunately, they are going to be leaving Anamosa for that. They are going to be tremendous, successful young men. As good of players as they are, they're even better people.'

Anamosa's 11 seniors take the floor together for the last time today. March 11, 2016

Anamosa's 11 seniors take the floor together for the last time today. https://t.co/YAclt7dDON #iahsbkb pic.twitter.com/Lulq1tOkCT

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SOUTH O'BRIEN WINS FIRST STATE TITLE

It's a school with just a bit of basketball tradition, even if it didn't come as its current name. Paullina is one of the towns in the South O'Brien district, and it won five state championships, the last in 1982.

South O'Brien (i.e. Paullina and Primghar) won its first Saturday night, beating Council Bluffs St. Albert in the Class 1A title game, 54-43.

The Wolverines (25-3) closed with a 15-0 run to win coming from behind. St. Albert (17-10) led by as many as nine late in the third quarter but couldn't hold on.

Damon Struve scored 13 points to lead South O'Brien. Kyle Paulsen added 11.

Travis Miller's 16 points led St. Albert. This was a matchup of the tournament seventh (South O'Brien) and eighth (St. Albert) seeds.

West Hancock won the 1A consolation game over Gladbrook-Reinbeck (last year's 1A champ), 61-56. G-R's Joe Smoldt was named captain of the 1A all-tournament team, scoring a tourney high 87 points in three games.

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