Iowa Boys State Basketball: First Championship Game Is Set

Easton Ersland had the biggest rebound of the game - and made the most heads-up play in the process.

Carroll put together an incredible second-half surge to push top-seed Ballard to the end, coming up just short in a Class 3A semifinal, 57-55.

With the win, the Bombers advance to Friday’s championship game of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Boys State Tournament from the Casey’s Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

After Jared Mohr sank an off-balance bucket and was fouled, Ersland grabbed the loose rebound off the miss and launched the ball down the court to an open teammate, who ran out the clock to secure the win for Ballard.

Three In Double Figures For Ballard

Evan Abbott had 19 points, Parker Miller 12 with eight rebounds and Jude Gibson scored 11 with seven rebounds and six assists. Ersland finished with seven points and four rebounds - but none bigger than his last.

The Bombers had taken control of the contest off the tip, scoring the first 14 points of the game. They led 18-5 after the first quarter before the Tigers would chip into the deficit minute by minute.

Carroll went into the half down 16 before climbing all the way back to within 10 in the third before another run by Ballard forced them to regroup.

Jared Mohr's Double-Double Paces Carroll

The Tigers did, using a pressure-heavy defense to speed up the Bombers, who were trying themselves to salt the contest away. Ballard’s free throw struggles also played into the comeback, finishing just 9 of 21 at the charity stripe.

Carroll was led by Mohr’s double-double, as he scored 20 points with 10 rebounds. Lual Tharjiath added 12 points and six rebounds, as Trey Tassell finished with eight and seven.

ADM-Storm Lake With An Instant Classic

In a game that featured two of the top players in Iowa boys high school basketball, four quarters were not enough.

In fact, five were not enough either.

Trey Bryte sank a pair of free throws with 10 seconds remaining and the defense of ADM did not allow Storm Lake to get a shot attempt off on the other end, sending the Tigers to the Class 3A final with a 72-70 double-overtime victory.

Bryte finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists, as teammate Hudson Lorensen scored 38 with five made 3-pointers. Hudson Shull and Tate Troster each scored six, knocking down four triples.

Storm Lake Stayed In It After Jaidyn Coon Fouled Out

The Tornadoes battled through the final three-plus minutes without star Jaidyn Coon, as the Creighton signee fouled out. Coon finished with 36 points and 18 rebounds, as Cam Boyd added 18 points and seven boards.

Bryte forced the first extra period after sinking a game-tying basket at the end of regulation. Coon forced the second overtime with a made free throw followed by a block on a shot attempt by ADM

In the second OT, Trey Boettcher knocked down his first triple of the week to give the Tornadoes a 68-66 lead and Timothy Yanga had a block on the other end that led to a basket by Boyd, putting Storm Lake up four with under two to play.

But Bryte inched ADM closer and Lorensen tied it at 70-all before the game-winning free throws from Bryte