Girls Basketball: Washington Gets Past Waukee To Get To State

By Rob Gray and Scott Saville, Reporters

Tools

By Grant Burkhardt

Story Created: Feb 20, 2013 at 12:16 AM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 20, 2013 at 12:22 AM CDT

ANKENY, Iowa — Washington’s Abby Herb summed up two seasons — and eight seconds — worth of frustration against sixth-ranked Waukee in one word.

“Finally,” said Herb, who endured early foul trouble but scored 13 points to lead the Warriors to a 61-54 girls’ regional final win over the other Warriors.

Washington advanced to the state tournament for the seventh time in 10 years — and avenged a pair of losses to Waukee the past two seasons by a combined three points.

Dani Franklin added 12 points for Washington and Colby Bjornsen scored 11, with all coming in the second half.

Bjornsen’s 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter broke a 47-47 tie and the Warriors would not trail again.

“I just knew if we wanted to win we had to play our hardest,” said Bjornsen, who also dished out a game-high six assists. “So just came out hard, I guess.”

Waukee, which saw its string of five straight tournament berths snapped, won the regular season meeting 62-61 last month at home.

“It means a lot,” Franklin said of winning the rematch. “It’s amazing.”

Especially considering the adversity her team faced.

Herb, who added 10 rebounds to notch a double-double, scored 11 of Washington’s first 16 points, but picked up her second and third fouls in an eight-second span late in the first quarter.

Herb’s third infraction — a charge — drew the ire of Washington fans and coach Frank Howell, who protested and was assessed a technical.

Waukee had been called for two fouls at that point.

Washington, for eight.

“We found a way to overcome a lot of things,” Howell said. “So proud of them. One of the happiest days I’ve had in coaching.”

Washington also saw Madison Kramer leave — and return to — the game after sustaining a leg injury in the third quarter.

The Warriors trailed Waukee 41-34 at the time, but struck for a 7-0 run as Kramer was checked out.

She finished with a game-high three steals.

“Down the stretch, I thought we were really good,” Howell said.

WASHINGTON 61, WAUKEE 54

AT ANKENY

WASHINGTON (61): Hobbs 2 3-4 8, Bjornsen 4 1-2 11, Herb 6 1-2 13, Kramer 2 1-3 6, Franklin 5 1-1 12, Glenski 3 0-0 9, Cook 1 0-0 2, Kamin 0 0-0 0, Malcolm 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 7-12 61.

WAUKEE (54): Dalsing 3 0-0 7, Shryack 3 2-4 9, Boland 5 8-10 20, Kollmorgen 0 0-0 0, Wingert 5 3-4 16, Bunz 1 0-0 2, Ripperger 0 0-0 0, Cavanugh 0 0-0 0, Hunzeker 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 13-18 54.

Halftime: Waukee 30, Washington 29. 3-point goals: Washington 8 (Glenski 3, Bjornsen 2, Franklin, Hobbs, Kramer); Waukee 7 (Wingert 3, Boland 2, Dalsing, Shryack). Fouls: Washington 17, Waukee 15. Fouled out: none. Technical: Washington bench. Rebounds: Waukee 28, Washington 26 (Herb 10). Assists: Washington 16 (Bjornsen 6), Waukee 8. Steals: Washington 7 (Kramer 3), Waukee 3. Turnovers: Waukee 13, Washington 7.