Boys’ state basketball tournament: Thursday’s other games

DES MOINES - When you shoot it like that, who needs all of your players? Definitely not Western Christian.

The top-ranked Wolfpack scored 27 points in the first quarter and had 53 at halftime, shooting 60.7 percent from the field in a 94-44 blowout of Camanche in a boys' state basketball tournament Class 2A semifinal Tuesday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena.

Western Christian (23-2) was missing starters Ben Granstra and Tyson Kooima, and reserves Brennan Moss and Carter Broek. They were suspended for a violation of school policy, according to Coach Bill Harmsen, and will not play in Friday night's championship game against Pella Christian.

Jacob Vis was lifted into the starting lineup for the Wolfpack and scored 16 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. Jesse Jansma had a game-high 27 points for WC, while Ben Gesink added 24.

Camanche, meanwhile, shot it at a 28.6-percent clip, finishing 32 points below its season average in points. The Indians got 12 points from Dylan Hundley.

Western Christian forced a continuous clock late in the third quarter by taking a lead of 35 points. It ran continuously the entire fourth quarter.

PELLA CHRISTIAN 64, CARROLL KUEMPER 61 - Levi Jungling scored 31 points, hitting four critical free throws in the final minute as PC (22-4) moved on to the 2A championship game.

Jungling made 8 of 13 shots from the field, including 6 of 9 from 3-point range, and made all nine of his free throws. David Kacmarynski was the Eagles' other double-figures scorer with 14.

Kuemper (23-3) got a 13-point, 21-rebound performance from Matt Dentlinger. The Knights' Sam Auen had a tying 3-point attempt at the buzzer miss.

GRAND VIEW CHRISTIAN 45, REMSEN ST. MARY'S 36 - The Des Moines school pulled away in the fourth quarter to win its Class 1A semifinal and advance to the championship game for the first time.

Stephen Glenn had 20 points to lead GVC (26-1) in this offensively challenged game. Both teams shot 30 percent from the field.

This was the first loss of the season for St. Mary's (25-1), which got 13 points and 10 rebounds from Nicholas Ruden.

St. Mary's plays North Linn in Monday morning's 10 a.m. consolation game. Grand View Christian plays Gladbrook-Reinbeck for the title at 6:05 p.m.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com