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>> WE'RE HONORED TO SUPPORT IOWA PBS.

WE'RE AN IOWA COMPANY THAT LIKES LIGHTS LOCAL SCHOOLS AND STADIUMS, ARENAS AND VENUES IN 25 COUNTRIES.

OUR COMMITMENT IS LOCAL EVEN THOUGH OUR REACH IS GLOBAL.

>> THE IOWA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC UNION IS BACK IN DES MOINES, IOWA'S CAPITAL CITY, FOR A TRIPLE-HEADER OF IOWA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS.

WE'RE ALL CHEERING FOR SOME BIG GAMES TODAY AS WE PLAY THE LAST OF THE 2025 SEASON.

XAVIER AND NORTH POLK GETTING READY TO DO BATTLE AS WE CROWN 5A AND 3A LAST NIGHT.

TODAY WE WILL DO 4A, 2A AND 1A.

I'M PAUL YEAGER.

GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE PERCH OVERLOOKING THE GAMES AT WELLS FARGO ARENA.

I'LL BE BACK LAUGHTER-TIME WITH HIGHLIGHTS AND INTERVIEWS.

FIRST, LET'S GO DOWN B.J.

SCHABEN AND LAURA LEONARD FOR THEIR CALL OF THE CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> IT IS TIME FOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BASKETBALL.

IT IS THE 4A TITLE GAME AS THE EIGHTH-SEEDED SEA RAPIDS XAVIER SAINTS TAKE ON THE NUMBER-TWO SEED NORTH POLK COMETS.

HI, WITH LAURA LEONARD, I'M B.J.

SCHABEN.

LAURA, THIS MATCHUP HAS EVERYTHING THE UNDER.

>> IT REALLY DOES.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE GAME.

XAVIER IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL EIGHT SEED YOU WOULD SEE COMING INTO A TOURNAMENT.

A COUPLE UPSETS SO TO SPEAK ALONG THE WAY, BUT THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE A GOOD ONE.

THEY HAVE MET UP ONCE BEFORE EARLY ON IN THE SEASON.

>> THAT WAS A WIN BY NORTH POLK.

LET'S LOOK AT THEIR TOURNAMENT RESUME, SHALL WE, FOR XAVIER, 17TH TRIP TO STATE.

HEAD COACH TOM LILLY IS GOING TO RETIRE AFTER THIS SEASON AFTER A LONG TENURE.

HOW ABOUT THEIR PLAYMAKER, SENIOR LIBBY FANDEL?

THE KANSAS SIGNEE HOLDS 17 SCHOOL RECORDS.

SHE'S NOTHING SHORT THAN DYNAMIC.

NOW FOR THE NORTH POLK COMETS.

THIS TEAM WAS EXPECTED TO BE BACK.

FOUR STARTERS BACK FROM LAST SEASON'S TEAM.

THEIR EIGHTH TRIP OVERALL TO STATE.

THEY'VE GOT A GREAT PLAYMAKER IN ABBY TUTTLE, AND LOOK OUT FOR GRETA DILLINGER.

SHE CAN REALLY LIGHTED IT UP FROM THE OUTSIDE.

WELL, AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT IT TOO, LAURA, WITH THESE TWO, FARE FAMILIAR WITH ONE ANOTHER.

BOTH HAVE HAD THEIR WAY HERE IN THE STATE TOURNAMENT AGAINST COMPETITION, ESPECIALLY IN THE SEMIFINALS.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, THIS ONE IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO DEFENSE I THINK.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO A COUPLE PEOPLE.

YOU TALKED ABOUT THEM, LIBBY FANDEL AND ABBY TUTTLE.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP THEM UNDER WRAPS.

MAKE SOME OF THE OTHER PLAYERS STEP UP AND SCORE SOME POINTS.

>> WELL, LET'S GET INTRODUCED TO TODAY'S TEAMS.

LET'S TURN IT OVER TO TODAY'S PUBLIC ADDRESS ANNOUNCER TIM FITZPATRICK.

[AC/DC'S THUNDERSTRUCK PLAYING] THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER NIL WAS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAILROAD TRACK I LOOKED AROUND AND I KNEW THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK MY MIND RACED AND I THOUGHT WHAT CAN I DO >> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE XAVIER SAINTS!

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] >> GIVE IT UP FOR THE NORTH POLK COMETS!

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, FANS, IT'S NOW TIME TO INTRODUCE THE PLAYERS IN TODAY'S 4A CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHUP.

YOUR NON-STARTERS AND ASSISTANT COACHES, FOR THE XAVIER SAINTS, NUMBER ONE, MACIE HERTING, NUMBER TWO, BELLA BARRETO.

NUMBER 21, GIANNA PINO, NUMBER 24, ELLA AARONS.

NUMB HER 30, KEKE HARBECK.

NUMBER 33, MAYZIE FISHER.

AND NUMBER 35, SAMANTHA DORRITY.

YOUR ASSISTANT COACHES, STEPHANIE POTTS, JIM POTTS, BLAIR KEVIN, AND LIAM MCCONVILLE.

NOW LET'S MEET YOUR NON-STARTERS AND ASSISTANT COACHES FOR THE NORTH POLK COMETS.

NUMBER THREE, JENNA MANOCK.

NUMBER FOUR, SOFIA BOUCHARD.

NUMBER FIVE, RASMUSSEN.

NUMBER 11, JOCELYN MANOCK.

NUMBER 20, LAUREN OSBORNE.

NUMBER 20, AUBREY HAPP, NUMBER 23, FAYTHE SULLIVAN.

NUMBER 25, AMELIA GROWDON.

AND NUMBER 32 LUCIA BOTELLA.

YOUR ASSISTANT COACH, ADAM BLOOM, CRAIG CHAPMAN, AND KAREN MATTHIS.

AND NOW, HERE IS YOUR STARTING LINEUP FOR THIS 4A.

FOR THE SAINTS, AT GUARD, A 5'7" JUNIOR, NUMBER THREE, MADDEN WILSON.

FOR THE COMETS AT GUARD, A 5'9" SOPHOMORE, NUMBER 14, CAMPBELL SCHULZ.

FOR XAVIER AT GUARD, A 5'4" JUNIOR, NUMBER FOUR, JASELLE LANG.

FOR NORTH POKE AT GUARD, A 5'9" SENIOR, NUMBER 22, ABBY TUTTLE.

FOR THE SAINTS AT FORWARD, A 5'10" SENIOR, NUMBER 11, TAYLOR REXROTH.

FOR THE COMETS AT GUARD, A 5'8" SENIOR, NUMBER 24, JADA PODEY.

FOR XAVIER AT GUARD, A 6'0" SENIOR, NUMBER 13, LIBBY FANDEL.

FOR THE COMETS AT CENTER, A 6'3" SENIOR, NUMBER 33, BECCA AAGARD.

AND FOR XAVIER AT GUARD, A 5'8" JUNIOR, REESE COMMEND.

GRETA DILLINGER.

HEAD COACH FOR THE SAINTS, IT'S TOM LILLY, FOR THE COMETS, CLINT ALBERTSEN.

REESE COMENDA COMETS >> OUR OFFICIALS FOR THIS CHIP K4EU7, YOUR REFEREE, CHRISTOPHER THOMAS.

UMPIRE, TIM OSTERHAUS, AND YOUR BENCH OFFICIAL, T.J. AUGUSTIN.

THE IOWA GIRLS ATHLETIC UNION PROMOTES GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP.

>> SO HERE WE GO, XAVIER AND NORTH POKE.

THE XAVIER SAINTS TRYING TO WIN THEIR SIXTH STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

AND NORTH POLK, IT'S IS THE FOURTH TIME THE CHARM?

WHAT DO THE XAVIER SAINTS NEED TO DO IN >> THEY NEED TO GET EVERYONE INVOLVED EARLY TO TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF LIBBY FANDEL, AND THEY NEED TO PLAY WITH POISE, HANDLE THE PRESSURE, AND THEN FOR NORTH POLK, SMART, AGGRESSIVE DEFENSE.

GET OUT, DEFEND, GET IN THE PASSING LANE, AND THEN PLAY TO THEIR STRENGTHS, PLAY WHAT THEY DO BEST, PLAY UP TEMPO, GET DIRECT PEOPLE INTO THE MIDDLE, WHERE AAGARD IS YOUR RIM PROTECTOR.

>> SO WE'RE ABOUT READY TO GET UNDER WAY.

CHRISTOPHER THOMAS WILL TOSS THE BALL UP.

IT WILL BE AAGARD AND FANDEL.

KOMENDA AND THE 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IS UNDER WAY FROM WELLS FARGO ARENA IN DES MOINES HERE ON IOWA PBS.

HERE'S FANDEL.

SHE'S BEEN TERRIFIC ALL TOURNAMENT LONG.

41 POINTS AWAY FROM 2,000 IN HER CAREER.

>> YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD GO, OH, SHE'S NEVER GOING TO GET THAT, DON'T COUNT HER OUT.

SHE CAN CERTAINLY FILL IT UP.

>> HER CAREER HIGH IS 41.

THAT CAME IN A REGIONAL SEMIFINAL GAME THIS SEASON.

HERE'S AAGARD.

GETS A LOOK INSIDE.

AND THE 6'3" SENIOR TOO STRONG ON THE SHOT.

>> THEY TOOK IT INSIDE RIGHT AWAY, KNOWING THEY HAD THE HEIGHT ADVANTAGE.

JUST OVERSHOT IT.

>> THE DRIVE, FINISH, NOT THERE FOR THE SAINTS.

OUT AHEAD, AAGARD ON THE BLOCK WILL KICK IT OUT PODEY OR I BEG YOUR PARDON, SCHULZ.

NOW TO PODEY.

>> XAVIER PICK UP MAN-TO-MAN.

>> GOOD PASS FROM TODAY TUT.

WHAT A FINISH BY CAMPBELL SCHULZ.

>> THAT WAS AN AMAZING SHOT.

SHE... ALL HER MOMENTUM WAS COMING THE OTHER WAY.

GOT THE REVERSE TO GO.

>> CAMPBELL SCHULZ LOVERS PLAYING AGAINST XAVIER.

SCORED A CAREER HIGH 24 POINTS EARLIER THIS SEASON.

HERE'S FANDEL.

GETS HIS FIRST BUCKET OF THE GAME.

THEY SPREAD THE FLOOR, LET HER GO ONE ON ONE KNOWING THAT AAGARD WAS BEHIND HER BACK PROTECTING THE HOOP.

SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT UP AND OVER THE TOP.

>> DILLINGER FOR THREE.

GOT IT!

>> DILLINGER IS A PLAYER THAT CAUGHT FIRE IN THE SEMIFINAL GAMES.

IT LOOKS LIKE SHE'S STILL ON FIRE.

STRUGGLED UP UNTIL THAT POINT AND UNTIL THE SEMIFINAL GAME, AND YOUR LAST SIX GAMES AT STATE, SHE WAS 0-19 FROM BEYOND THE ARC.

THEN SHE LIT IT UP FOR SEVEN THE OTHER NIGHT IN THE SEMIFINALS.

>> WELL, NO QUESTION, THE LIGHT SWITCH IS ON AS TUTTLE FEEDS IT INSIDE.

DEFLEBLGHTS OUT BY XAVIER.

IT WILL STAY WITH NORTH POLK UNDERNEATH THEIR OWN HOOP.

>> YOU COULD SEE HOW QUICKLY THEY GET DOWN THE FLOOR.

THEY LIKE THE PUSH TEMPO.

THAT'S WHERE THEY GET A LOT OF THEIR POINTS ON RUN-OUTS.

>> WHAT A SEASON, WHAT A YEAR IT'S BEEN FOR NORTH POLK, WINNING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN GIRLS SOCCER, BASEBALL, FOOTBALL.

WHAT A RUN.

INSIDE THE LAYUP GOOD BY PODEY.

>> THEY'RE SO GOOD AT SLASHING TO THE BASKET, ALWAYS ON THE MOVE.

NOT STANDING AROUND.

YOU GET THE BALL SOMEWHERE LIKE AAGARD DID, A COUPLE TIMES GOT IT DOWN LOW, YOU CAN FIND A CUTTER.

>> LIBBY FANDEL VERY GOOD.

THE PULL-UP FROM 15.

>> SHE'S GOT A VARIETY OF SHOTS THAT SHE CAN PULL OUT OF HER BAG.

THAT'S JUST ONE OF THEM.

MID-RANGE.

SHE CAN STOP ON A DIME, PULL UP AND KNOCK DOWN A JUMPER.

>> B.J:.

>>.

>> LAURA: REXROTH WAS ON HER, GIVING UP A FEW INCHES TRYING TO STAY UP AND DOWN.

>> B.J: FANDEL'S THREE NOT THERE.

REBOUND TRACKED DOWN BY KOMENDA.

THE SHOT OFF THE MARK.

NORTH POLK WILL CONTROL IT.

TUTTLE WILL LOOK TO PUSH TEMPO.

OUT AHEAD PODEY.

LAYUP?

NO.

>> LAURA: WHAT GREAT HUSTLE DOWN THE FLOOR BY LANG TO REALLY BOTHER THAT SHOT ATTEMPT.

BUT AGAIN, YOU GOT TO GET BACK ON DEFENSE IF YOU'RE XAVIER.

>> XAVIER NOT BASHFUL AT ALL AT TAKING SOME LONG THREES AS WE HAVE A FOUL UNDERNEATH.

THIS IS GOING AGAINST TUTTLE.

THAT WILL BE HER FIRST.

>> LAURA: THEY CERTAINLY ARE LOOKING TO THE PERIMETER GAME NOW, SETTLING FOR THOSE THREE-POINT SHOTS.

A FEW SUBSTOONGSES FOR BOTH TEAMS AS THEY HAVE BEEN GETTING UP AND DOWN THE FLOOR.

>> B.J: WILSON OVER THE FANDEL.

GETS THE ISO.

A PULL-UP FROM THE BASELINE.

BY, LIBBY FANDEL IS ON FIRE.

SHE HAS ALL SIX FOR XAVIER.

>> LAURA: TALK ABOUT A SHOT.

THOSE ARE ONES THAT YOU WORK ON ON YOUR OWN IN THE GYM.

THAT WAS A DUAL JAB STEP, A LITTLE STEP AWAY, FADEAWAY JUMPER.

SHE SAW AAGARD IN THE MIDDLE WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ALL THE WAY IN.

>> B.J: NOW TUTTLE WORKS AGAINST FANDEL, THE GIVE-AND-GO.

GOOD DEFENSE BY XAVIER.

FANDEL OUT WITH IT.

NUMBERS FOR XAVIER.

OUT AHEAD.

THE LAYUP GOOD BY LANG.

>> LAURA: SHE LOOKED RIGHT TO LANG AND SAID GET AHEAD OF THE PACK SO I CAN FEED YOU.

SHE DID.

SHE PUT ON THE BURNERS AND GOT TO THE HOOP.

>> B.J: HERE'S FAYTHE SULLIVAN BACKING IN.

TUTTLE TO AAGARD.

DOUBLE TEAM.

NOW TRIPLE TEAM.

AAGARD SPLITS THE DEFENDERS FOR TWO.

>> LAURA: THEY DIDN'T STAY WITH HER.

THE GOOD THING, AAGARD KENT THE BALL UP IN THE AIR SO THE GUARDS COULD NOT STRIP IT FROM HER.

WAIT UNTIL SHE FOUND A LITTLE SEEM AND A CREASE TO GET THROUGH.

PGH >> B.J.

: LIBBY WILL GO TO THE LINE TO SHOOT TWO.

WELL, IF YOU'RE JOINING OUR COVERAGE VIA YOUTUBE, TELL US WHERE YOU'RE WATCHING FROM IN THE COMMENTS.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VIEWERS TUNING IN, INCLUDING THE COME FAMILY IN LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

WHERE ARE YOU WATCHES FROM?

ON YOUTUBE YOU CAN PUNCH IN WHERE YOU'RE WATCHING FROM AS LIBBY FANDEL MISTTION FRONT END.

SHE'S AN 84% FREE THROW SHOOTER ON THE SEASON.

ING.

>> LAURA: THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THE COACH HAS SAID ABOUT LIBBY FANDEL.

SHE HAS A WORK HEALTHIC LIKE NO OTHER.

SHE IS IN THE GYM WHEN OTHERS ARE HOME WATCHING TV, DOING OTHER THINGS.

SHE'S IN THE GYM WORKING ON HER SHOT, WORKING ON HER GAME.

>> B.J.

: WE ASKED HER, WHAT'S YOUR SECRET TO SUCCESS?

SHE SAYS IT GOES BACK TO AAU.

SHE PLAYS FOR THE ALL IOWA ATTACK.

1,000 SHOTS A DAY.

WELL, SHE FOLLOWED IT.

>> LAURA: SHE TOOK IT TO HEART.

THAT'S WILL THE OF SHOTS.

IT'S A VARIETY OF SHOTS.

IT'S FREE THROWS, IT'S JUMPERS, IT'S MID-RANGE JUMPERS.

IT'S LAYUPS.

>> B.J.

: LIBBY FANDEL WITH THE ASSIST.

>> LAURA: THE BALL HANDLING, THE STEP-BACK JUMPER.

AGAIN A STEP-BACK JUMPER.

SHE'S NOT ALWAYS SQUARE ON THOSE SHOTS, BUT SHE'S GOT THE SOFT TOUCH TO KNOCK THOSE SHOTS DOWN.

>> B.J.

: TURTLE WILL RUN IT AHEAD.

HERE'S SULLIVAN ALONG THE BASELINE.

THE KICKOUT.

NOW INTO THE GAME, LAUREN OSBORNE FOR NORTH POLK.

HERE'S TUTTLE WITH HER FIRST BASKET FOR THE NORTHERN IOWA RECRUIT.

>> LAURA: THAT'S HER STRENGTH, WHEN SHE CAN GET INSIDE, SHE CAN MATCH UP AND BODY UP AGAINST PLAYERS AND GET A SHOT OFF.

>> B.J.

: NORTH POLK REALLY WORKING THEIR BENCH EARLY ON.

THEY PLAYED SEVEN SO FAR.

XAVIER NOT AS DEEP.

TRYING TO STAY CONSISTENT.

SAMANTHA DORRITY, THE FRESHMAN IN FOR THE FIRST TIME WEARING NUMBER 35.

HERE'S THE DUMP DOWN TO THE XAVIER SAINTS.

>> LAURA: THE DEFENSE IS JUST RELENTLESS FOR THE COMETS.

>> B.J.

: THIS THREE OFF THE MARK.

FANDEL WILL PICK IT UP.

LOOKS LIKE WE'LL GET SOME SUBS AT THE NEXT DEAD BALL.

IT'S BEEN A FRANTIC BASE EARLY ON.

A FIVE-POINT ADVANTAGE FOR NORTH POLK.

BECCA AAGARD LEADING THE WAY WITH FIVE.

JUMP SHOT A LITTLE TOO STRONG FOR WILSON AS AAGARD WILL CLEAR IT.

>> LAURA: KNEW SHE HAD TO GET IT UP QUICK OFF THE GLASS AS AAGARD WAS COMING TO TRY TO BLOCK IT.

>> ALL FIVE STARTERS HAVE SCORED FOR THE COMETS.

HERE'S A STEAL BY FANDEL.

LIBBY WILL ATTACK.

TOO STRONG.

DORRITY THE PUT-BACK.

NOT THERE.

FANDEL WITH THE BOARD.

AND GETS TIED UP.

POSSESSION ARROW WILL GIVE IT TO NORTH POLK.

>> LAURA: WELL, GOT THE BREAK AWAY.

I THINK FANDEL TRIED TO INITIATE THE CONTACT LOOKING FOR THE FOUL ON THAT SHOT.

OVERSHOT IT.

AGAIN, JUST A SCRAMBLE FOR THE LOOSE BALL.

TUTTLE RIGHT THERE TO TIE IT UP.

>> B.J.

: FOR XAVIER, JASELLE LANG WILL COME INTO THE GAME.

O'BRIEN IS OUT.

FOR NORTH POLK, BOTH PODEY AND DILLINGER WILL COME BACK NEW YORK JOINED BY SULLIVAN AND AAGARD.

TUTTLE ON THE DRIVE.

CAN'T GET IT TO FALL.

FANDEL WITH THE REBOUND.

>> LAURA: JUST SHORT ARMED IT.

NOT HAPPY WITH HERSELF.

THEY SET THAT UP.

SHE HAD A CLEAR DRIVING LANE.

>> B.J.

: AND FANDEL WILL GO BACK TO THE LINE.

>> LAURA: VERY FEW WHISTLES IN THIS QUARTER.

THEY HAVE BEEN LETTING THEM RUN, LETTING THEM PLAY.

THESE PLAYERS I THINK WILL WELCOME THE FIRST-QUARTER TIME-OUT.

>> B.J.

: AAGARD PICKED UP THE FOUL.

FANDEL HITS THE FREE THROW.

HERE'S A LOOK AT TOM LILLY.

41ST SEASON OVERALL, AND YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT HE'S DONE.

I MEAN, NUMEROUS STATE EXIP EXIPS AT CAN XAVIER, AND, IN FACT, AFTER HE ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT, THEY HAD A TOM LILLY APPRECIATION NIGHT ON A GAME JUST A WEEK LATER, WHERE THEY BROUGHT BACK ALUMNI, FANS, EVERYBODY AT XAVIER.

I MEAN, HE IS THE GUY, AND HE TALKED TO US ABOUT HOW HE'S HAD TO ADJUST STYLES.

HERE'S AAGARD.

HER STYLE IS I'M GOING TO TAKE IT RIGHT TO THE RACK.

A REBOUND HERE FOR THE COMETS.

>> LAURA: AND COACHES WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR A LONG TIME, 30, 40 YEARS, SOME DON'T ADANGT.

HE CERTAINLY HAS ADAPTED.

HE SAYS HE'S READ A LOT OF BOOKS.

HE'S READ A LOT OF THINGS ON GENZ, THAT GENERATION, HOW THE ADAPT AND WORK WITH THOSE PLAYERS.

HE SAID A LOT OF PLAYERS AND PEOPLE WOULD HAVE SAID, I'M A TYRANT, I WAS MEAN BACK IN THE DAY.

HE SAID, LOOK AT ME.

DOES THIS FACE LOOK LIKE IT'S MEAN?

AND IT DOESN'T.

>> B.J.

: DILLINGER LEFT OPEN.

THAT'S SHORT.

A REBOUND TO XAVIER.

WILSON ON THE ATTACK.

GETS THE TWO!

>> LAURA: WHAT BALL HANDLING BY WILL ISN'T.

A LITTLE MISDIRECTION.

>> B.J.

: WE'VE GOT OURSELVES A ONE-POINT GAME.

NORTH POLK HAS LED FROM THE OPENING TIP.

TUTTLE'S THREE, NO.

THAT WILL BE THE END OF THE OPENING QUARTER.

13-12 NORTH POLK.

LET'S GO TO OUR FRIEND PAUL YEAGER, WHO IS STANDING BY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, B.J.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LAURA.

GREAT FIRST QUARTER.

THESE TWO TEAMS HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD GAME, SEMIFINALS.

WILL ITSELF START WITH XAVIER AND NORWALK.

NOR SURVIVED A REALLY CLOSE GAME IN THEIR QUARTERFINAL.

IT WAS LIBBY FANDEL.

B.J.

AND LAURA HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT HER.

LOOK HOW SWEET HER GAME IS.

SHE GOES UP AND GETS THE REBOUND AND THE PUT-BACK.

SHE HAS 58 POINTS AND 39 REBOUNDS IN THE FIRST TWO GAMES OF THE TOURNAMENT.

PRETTY GOOD I'D SAY.

FOR NORTH POLK, THEY WERE UP AGAINST DALLAS CENTER-GRIMES.

BOTH OF THESE TEAMS HAVE BEEN STAPLES AT WELLS FARGO ARENA.

GRETA DILLINGER HIT A BIG THREE EARLY IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS BALLGAME, SHE HITS ONE, THEN THE OTHER, THEN ANOTHER.

SEVEN THREE POINTERS FOR GRETA DILLINGER IN THIS CONTEST.

AND NORTH POLK ADVANCED AGAINST DCG 52-30 IN THEIR GAME.

LET'S ADVANCE BACK DOWN TO THE COURT AS WE GO BACK FOR B.J.

'S AND LAURA'S CALL OF THE SECOND QUARTER.

>> THANKS, PAUL.

DON'T MISS A MINUTE OF TODAY'S CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION.

YOU CAN CATCH THE LIVE STREAMS ON YOUTUBE AND IOWAPBS.ORG.

ONE-POINT GAME.

NORTH POLK.

WHAT STOOD OUT THE YOU SO FAR?

>> LAURA: I THINK THE PACE.

I THINK THE PACE DOES MAYBE FAVOR THE COMETS.

THEY LIKE TO PLAY TEMPO.

THEY LIKE TO GET UP AND DOWN THE FLOOR.

I THINK XAVIER NEEDS TO TRY TO GET A FEW MORE PLAYERS INVOLVED.

FANDEL HAS EIGHT SO FAR IN THIS BALLGAME.

WE NEED A COUPLE OTHERS TO STEP UP AND PICK UP THE SCORING.

RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, BOTH TEAMS IN IT AND PLAYING VERY TOUGH.

>> LAURA: SO OUT ON THE FLOOR, STARTING FIVE FOR THE SAINTS.

FANDEL, WILSON, REXROTH, LANG AND KOMENDA.

NORTH POLK WILL BE TUTTLE, SCHULZ, AAGARD, AND PODEY.

HERE'S FANDEL'S THREE NOT THERE AS AAGARD WILL CLEAR IT.

XAVIER HAS NOT LED IN THIS GAME.

THE DUMP DOWN TO AAGARD.

A FOUL WILL BE CALLED ON REXROTH.

>> LAURA: THAT'S A GOOD, OLD-FASHIONED SLIP OF THE SCREEN, A PICK AND ROLL IF YOU WILL.

AAGARD SLIPS RITE TO THE BASKET.

BROUGHT IT DOWN AROUND THE WAIST.

REXROTH THOUGHT SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET TO THAT BALL CLEANLY, BUT SHE GOT CALLED FOR THE FOUL.

>> B.J.

: SEEING NIFTY PASSING.

THEY LEAD THE STATE IN ASSISTS AS AAGARD'S FREE THROW WAS GOOD.

BECCA AAGARD LISTED AT SIX FOOT THREE.

SHE IS NOT GOING TO PLAY IN COLLEGE, SO THIS IS IT FOR HER.

>> LAURA: SOMETIMES PLAYERS SAY, OKAY, I'M GOING TO PLAY TO THIS POINT AND I HAD A GREAT CAREER, AND SHE'S HOPING THEY CAN GO OUT ON A HIGH NOTE WITH A STATE TITLE.

>> B.J.

: 15-12.

FANDEL DRAWS SOME ATTENTION FROM NORTH POLK.

SHE SCORED 29 IN THEIR FIRST MEETING.

CAUGHT UP BY AAGARD.

A STEAL BY SCHULZ.

>> LAURA: LITTLE SWITCH AND A LITTLE TWIST.

THEY BRING AAGARD ALL THE WAY OUT AWAY FROM THE BASKET.

GET THOSE LONG ARMS IN FRONT OF FANDEL.

SHE CAN'T FIND A TEAMMATE TO PASS IT TO.

>> B.J.

: TEACH TEAM IS GOING TO PLAY FAST HERE TODAY.

THAT MEANS GET YOUR SHOT UP QUICK EARLY ON IN THE SHOT CLOCK.

>> LAURA: GET IT UP QUICK, AND THEN IF IT'S COMING OFF THE RIM AND YOU I DON'T HAVE THAT OFFENSIVE REBOUND, THEN GET BACK ON DEFENSE.

>> B.J.

: XAVIER HAS MISSED SOME EARLY ON.

BACK THE OTHER WAY TUTTLE.

DILLINGER LEFT OPEN.

FROM THE WING, YES.

>> LAURA: YOU GOT TO FIND HER.

SHE'S FOUND THE MARK HERE AT THE WELL, AND SHE'S FEELING VERY, VERY COMFORTABLE.

>> B.J.

: A TIME-OUT TAKEN HERE BY XAVIER.

WELL, THESE TWO TEAMS, HOW DID THEY GET HERE?

WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT MAP.

MADE FAMOUS AT BETTS AUDITORIUM.

WE SPRUCED IT UP A LITTLE BIT DIGITALLY FOR YOU AT HOME.

>> LAURA: LOVE THAT MAP.

THAT WAS ALWAYS A BIG STAPLE AT THE TOURNAMENTS, AND I'M GLAD WE STILL CAN RECREATE THAT HERE.

>> B.J.

: NORTH POLK A BUDDING COMMUNITY.

THE HIGH SCHOOL LOCATED IN ALLEMAN, BUT LOOK OUT FOR POLK CITY.

EVERY TIME YOU BLINK, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A HOUSE GOING UP.

AND XAVIER JUST A WAYS AWAY, ABOUT 117 MILES FROM THE ARENA TODAY.

>> LAURA: YOU LIKE THE FACT THESE TWO TEAMS HAVE BEEN UP ALREADY IN THE SEASON.

THEY'RE WILLING TO PLAY ONE ANOTHER, PUT THEM ON THE SCHEDULE, KNOWING THEY'RE GOING TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES MID-SEASON.

>> B.J.

: WELL, NORTH POLK DID NOT DODGE ANYBODY ON THEIR SCHEDULE.

THEY WANTED TO FIND GREAT COMPETITION.

THEY OPENED UP THE SEASON WITH THE OPENING SCRIMMAGE AGAINST DOWLAND CATHOLIC.

THEY PLAYED JOHNSTON TO END THE SEASON.

MADDEN WILSON GETS HER FOURTH POINT.

>> LAURA: I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COACH CLINT ALBERTSEN DOES A LOT.

HE WILL CHALLENGE ANYBODY.

HE'S NOT AFRAID TO SCHEDULE ANYBODY.

HE KNOWS THE KIND OF PLAYERS AND THE TEAM THAT HE HAS, AND HE WANTS THEM TO TRY TO PLAY THE BEST OF THE BEST.

>> B.J.

: AND EXR XAVIER, THEY PLAY IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONFERENCE WHAT THEY WON, WHICH IS PREDOMINANTLY BIG SCHOOLS.

WENT 12-IN THAT LEAGUE.

>> LAURA: THAT CERTAINLY HELPS THEM EVERY SEASON THAT THEY'RE PLAYING A LOT OF 5A-CLASS SCHOOLS.

TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF RECORD AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT RECORD YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

>> B.J.

: THE SHOT NOT THERE.

REBOUND COMES DOWN TO PODEY AGAIN.

DILLINGER QUICKLY COVERED UP.

NORTH POLK WILL RESET.

HERE'S AAGARD.

THOSE THREES, WHEN THEY FALL, THEY BECOME SUCH AN ADVANTAGE.

NOW AAGARD ONE ON ONE AND WITH IF ADVANTAGE SHE'LL BACK IN.

LEFT HAND.

CAN'T GET IT TO FALL.

AND THE REBOUND TO FANDEL.

LIBBY TRIED TO CLEAR TRAFFIC AND GETS THE DEUCE.

>> LAURA: LOOKS LIKE DEFENSIVELY XAVIER IS WILLING TO LET THE BALL GO INSIDE THE AAGARD.

COACH ALBERTSEN IS GOING TO CALL A TIME-OUT.

>> THE ROAD TO STATE, THE INSPIRATION IN THE BACKSTAGE HALLWAYS, THE ADORNMENTS, THE WALL OF PLAYERS NAME, POSTED MESSAGES AND THE PINK LIGHTS WITH TEN TRY WITH THE SCHOOL STICKERS ON THE FLOOR.

JUST A NEAT ATMOSPHERE TO GET PLAYERS FIRED UP FOR SOME TOURNAMENT BASKETBALL.

>> LAURA: THE GIRLS UNION THINKS OF SOMETHING FUN TO DO ALL THE TIME YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

THEY CHANGE IT UP A LITTLE BIT.

THEY ADDED A FEW THINGS.

THEY TAKE AWAY A FEW THINGS.

IT IS ALWAYS EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO COME DOWN HERE FOR THIS WEEK.

IT'S SO FESTIVE AND SO FUN.

>> THIS IS GAME ONE OF CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY WITH THE 2A TITLE GAME COMING YOUR WAY AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS.

TONIGHT IT'S THE 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

SO THE COMETS READY TO GO AT IT.

PODEY ON THE DRIVE.

I BEGGOR PARDON, SHE'S SCHULZ.

SHE WILL DRAW CONTACT AND GO TO THE LINE.

CAMPBELL SCHULZ AN 84% FREE-THROW SHOOTER ON THE SEASON.

>> LAURA: AND SCHULZ GOT A TOUCH EARLY.

GOT A BUCKET.

THEN WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HER TOO MUCH HERE IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

AND YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD QUITE A GAME AGAINST XAVIER, 24 POINTS, 10-17 FROM THE FLOOR, SHOOTING IT VERY WELL THAT NIGHT.

>> B.J.

: 1-2 ON THIS TRIP, SHE NOW HAS THREE.

BACK TO A THREE-POINT GAME.

>> LAURA: STRETCHING OUT THAT DEFENSE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.

>> B.J.

: JUSTIN DOHERTY, NO.

SULLIVAN WITH THE BOARD.

>> LAURA: AAGARD ALTERED THAT SHOT JUST A LITTLE BIT.

AS DORRITY STEPPED BACK, GOT SOME SEPARATION, BUT STILL WITH AAGARD FLYING AT YOU, HAD THOSE HANDS EXTENDED, ALTERED HER SHOT.

>> B.J.

: TUTTLE GOING TO BE RIPPED AWAY FROM FANDEL.

IT'S A RACE TO THE BUCKET.

FANDEL WILL GO TO THE LINE AND HAVE TO EARN THEM, A HARD, PRIME TIME FOUL BY ABBY TUTTLE.

THAT'S OLD SCHOOL RIGHT THERE.

>> LAURA: THAT IS.

THAT IS OLD SCHOOL AND FANDEL COMES AND TAKES IT AWAY FROM TUTTLE, AND TUTTLE WAS JUST NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY OF IT.

HUNG ON FOR DEAR LIFE.

WAS NOT GOING TO GIVE UP THE AND ONE.

>> TUTTLE DOES NOT TURN THE BALL OVER VERY OFTEN.

YOU CAN TELL SHE LAD A -- FANDEL KNOCKS DOWN FIRST ONE.

>> ANY TIME YOUR PLAYING IN YOUR FRONT YARD, SOMEBODY TAKES THE BALL FROM YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT BACK.

THAT WAS HER MENTALITY.

AS A TEAM, NORTH POLK DOES NOT TURN IT OVER VERY OFTEN, RIGHT AROUND 11 A GAME.

THEY'RE A TEAM THAT TAKES CARE OF THE BASKETBALL.

>> B.J.

: THE HIGHEST ASSIST-TO-TURNOVER RATIO, MAYBE NOT IN THE LAST MINUTE OR TWO, BUT IN THE STATE.

THEY HAVE BEEN CLEAN WITH THE BALL THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

AND NEW XAVIER WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEIR FIRST LEAD OF THE AFTERNOON.

INTO THE CORNER.

THE SHOT.

KOMENDA NO.

REBOUNDED BY WILSON.

>> LAURA: WILSON AVERAGES JUST ABOUT 6.5 REBOUNDS PER GAME.

SHE'S ONE OF THE SMALLER PLAYERS ON THE FLOOR.

JUST KNOWS HOW TO GET INTO POSITION.

ALWAYS SEEMS TOOK MOVING WITHOUT THE BALL.

AS SOON AS A SHOT GOES UP, SHE'S CRASHING THE BOARDS.

>> B.J.

: DORRITY, THE FRESHMAN, WILL DELIVER DOWN LOW TO WILSON.

SHE'S GOT SIX, AND LOOK AT THIS.

XAVIER WITH THEIR FIRST LEAD OF THE GAME AT 20-19.

>> LAURA: DORRITY IS A CREATOR.

SHE'S MAKING THINGS HAPPEN WHEN SHE HAS THE BALL IN HER HANDS.

>> B.J.

: SULLIVAN'S REVERSE NO.

FANDEL ANOTHER BOARD.

TRYING TO GET ANOTHER ASSIST.

AND THAT SHOT MISSED BY LANG.

>> LAURA: THEY'RE STARTING TO FEEL IT.

THEY'RE STARTING TO PUSH TEMPO LATE MORE.

HOLDING NORTH POLK TO ONE SHOT AND DONE, GOING THE OTHER WAY.

>> B.J.

: SCHULZ DRIVES AND SPINS TO HER LEFT.

NORTH POLK HAS GOT A LOT OF ISO.

FANDEL LEFT OPEN.

BURIES IT.

>> LAURA: ONCE SHE MADE THAT SPIN MOVE, IT JUST OPENED UP.

IT WAS KIND OF LIKE THE SEA PARTING.

SHE PULLED UP AND HIT THAT JUMPER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE, AND THAT FORCES COACH ALBERTSON TO CALL ANOTHER TIME-OUT.

>> MOVE THE BALL SIDE TO SIDE.

IF WE CALL SOMETHING AND IT'S NOT, THERE WE DON'T HAVE TO FORCE IT INTO A BRICK WALL.

USE YOUR TEAMMATES.

INSIDE-OUT THREES.

[BUZZER SOUNDS] MOVE THE BASKETBALL.

RUN SOME MORE.

>> B.J.

: I THINK HE SAW WHAT WE SAW, A LITTLE TOO MUCH ONE-ON 46-ONE TO THE HOOP.

>> LAURA: ISOLATION.

THEY WENT A LITTLE INDIVIDUAL.

HE SAID, "USE YOUR TEAMMATES."

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE OUT FOR.

KICK OUT AFTER THE DRIVE FOR THE THREE.

SETTLE DOWN.

GET BACK INTO THE OFFENSE.

GET THE MOVEMENT THEY NORMALLY HAVE.

>> B.J.

: FIVE TURNOVERS SO FAR BY NORTH POLK.

DOWN BY THREE.

SULLIVAN NOW TO DILLINGER.

PLENTY OF TIME ON THE SHOT CLOCK AS HE HIT THE TEN-SECOND MARK.

AND SULLIVAN LOST THIS OFF OF HER LEG.

>> LAURA: SOMEBODY SLAPPED AT IT AS SHE WAS TRYING TO GET THROUGH ALL OF THE TRAFFIC AND IT WENT OFF OF HER KNEE.

>> B.J.

: LANG TRYING TO WORK IN ON DILLINGER.

FINDS HER TEAMMATE KOMENDA AND ONE!

>> LAURA: WHAT A PLAYMAKER AND WHAT A CREATOR.

OFF OF THE WICK WING, THE DRIBBLE DRIVE, SHE ENTICED AAGARD TO COME OUT AND TRY TO SLOW HER DOWN.

BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT ALLOWED LANG TO SLEEP IN, EXCUSE ME, KOMENDA TO SNEAK IN BEHIND.

>> B.J.

: THE FOUL ON ABBY TUTTLE, THAT IS GOING TO BE HER SECOND.

AND TO THE LINE WITH WITH REESE KOMENDA.

THE 5'8" JUNIOR CAN'T GET IT TO 2358, BUT FANDEL WITH THE REBOUND.

AND XAVIER WITH A CHANCE TO ADD.

KOMENDA WILL GO BACK TO THE LINE, THIS TIME THE FOUL ON PODEY.

THAT'S HER FIRST.

MAKE IT HER SECOND.

>> LAURA: RIGHT NOW XAVIER, NUMBER ONE, HAS ALL THE MOMENTUM, AND THEY'RE PLAYING VERY CONFIDENTLY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THEY NEEDED TO GET EVERYBODY INVOLVED, AND THEY ARE GETTING EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THAT MIGHT NOT BE IN THE SCORING COLUMN, MIGHT BE IN THE ASSIST COLUMN.

IT MIGHT BE, HEY, I'M HELPING CREATE FOR MY TEAMMATES AND GETTING THEM THE BASKETBALL.

>> B.J.

: LARGEST LEAD OF THE GAME BY EITHER TEAM, IT'S SIX NOW FOR COMAIFIER.

THEY'RE ON A 9-0 RUN, XAVIER IS.

KOMENDA MAKES GOOD ON BOTH.

AAGARD AT THE HIGH POST TO PODEY.

BOY, WHAT A BATTLE AT THE BLOCK.

AAGARD TO PODEY.

CAN'T GET THE SHOT.

REBOUND TIPPED OUT.

WILL STAY WITH NORTH POLK.

IT DID NOT TOUCH THE RIM SOME THE SHOT CLOCK WILL REMAIN AT 13 SECONDS.

>> LAURA: WELL, YOU SAID IT WAS A BATTLE IN THE POST.

IT'S BEEN A BATTLE EVERYWHERE OUT ON THE FLOOR.

THEY HAVE JUST PICKED IT UP A NOTCH.

EVEN THE CULGT AND THE MOTION, XAVIER IS RIGHT WITH THEM WITH A HAND IN THE PASSING LANE.

>> B.J.

: SCHULZ THE KICKOUT.

PODEY'S THREE, YES!

>> LAURA: MUCH-NEEDED THREE.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT COACH ALBERTSEN WAS TALKING ABOUT.

WE HEARD IT IN THE HUDDLE, INSIDE-OUT.

KICK IT OUT TO THE THREE-POINT SHOOTERS.

>> FANDEL IN THE PAINT.

LIBBY FANDEL ALREADY IN DOUBLE FIGURES.

SHE IS SITTING WITH 16.

HERE'S AAGARD ON THE DRIVE.

CAN'T GET IT TO FALL.

REBOUND WILL COME DOWN TO WILSON.

IN FACT, 16 POINTS, 11 REBOUNDS FOR FANDEL.

THERE'S THREE.

KNOCKED DOWN BY TAYLOR REXROTH, HER FIRST BUCKET OF THE GAME.

>> LAURA: AND WHAT A SEMIFINAL SHE HAD YESTERDAY.

SHE WAS PER FREQUENT THE FROM THE FLOOR, A PERFECT 4-4 FROM THREE-POINT RANGE.

5-5 OVERALL.

MISSED ONE FREE THROW, BUT OTHERWISE A PERFECT DAY FOR HER.

>> B.J.

: SO XAVIER TRYING TO UPSET THE ENTIRE BRACKET, THE EIGHT SEED KNOCKED OFF THE NUMBER-ONE SEED BY 14.

THEY BEAT THE FOUR-SEED NORWALK WARRIORS THE OTHER DAY BY TIN.

NOW A PICK OF THE POCKET, A SHOT AT THE HORN NOT.

THERE FANDEL KNOWS THERE IS TIME BUT JUST CAN'T TRACK DOWN THE REBOUND.

BUT WHAT A FIRST HALF.

SECOND QUARTER IN PARTICULAR IN WHICH XAVIER OUTSCORES NORTH POLK 19-9.

>> LAURA: IT WAS KIND OF THE REVERSE IN THE GAME THAT THEY PLAYED EARLIER.

THERE WERE TWO QUARTERS THAT NORTH POLK HELD XAVIER TO EIGHT POINTS IN THE SECOND AND THE FOURTH QUARTER.

SO XAVIER TURNS THE TABLES RIGHT NOW ON NORTH POLK.

WHAT A SURGE OF OFFENSE FOR THE SAINTS.

>> B.J.

: LET'S GO TO PAUL YEAGER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, B.J.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LAURA.

TOM LILLY WILL JOIN US IN A MOMENT.

THEN WE HAVE HALFTIME PERFORMANCE.

THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER INTERVIEW.

LIST GO BACK DOWN TO THE FLOOR.

TOM LILLY, COACH, FIRST QUARTER TO SECOND QUARTER, DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE.

IT WAS ALL ABOUT ISO AND GET SOME THINGS CLOSER TO THE RIM.

>> WE HAVEN'T BEEN SHOOTING IT VERY WELL, SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY EVEN TRY, BUT TAYLOR JUST HIT THE BIG THREE.

WE'LL TAKE THAT ONE.

REALISTICALLY, IT'S AFACT THEM AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THEM IN SOME FOUL TROUBLE.

>> LIBBY FANDEL, WE TALKED ABOUT HER OVER THE YEARS, JUST HOW SMOOTH SHE IS.

SHE LOOKED LIKE SHE TOOK OVER, BUT SHE ALSO HAD A COUPLE FRIENDS THAT HELPED OUT.

>> NO PLAYER CAN WIN A GAME BY THEMSELVES.

THEY ALL HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE.

WE MISSED A COUPLE LAYUPS THAT I FELT WE COULD HAVE HAD EARLY TOO IN THE FIRST QUARTER.

REALISTICALLY IT WILL COME DOWN TO THE DEFENSIVE END AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO STOP THEIR PERIMETER SHOOTERS.

WE DID A BETTER JOB TRANSITIONING BACK ON DEFENSE.

WE GAVE THEM TOO MANY EASY OPPORTUNITIES.

SO SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GET THROUGH THAT INITIAL WIN WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO PASSED OUT, YOU'RE OUT OF SHAPE, BUT IT COMES BACK TO YOU PRETTY QUICKLY.

I THINK WE GOT OUR SECOND WIN.

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, COACH.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

>> THAT'S TOM LILY.

HEAD COACH, 41 YEARS.

HIS FINAL HALFTIME SPEECH IS COMING UP NEXT.

WILL LET'S GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR FOR ONE OF THE GREAT PAGEANTRY OPPORTUNITIES WE SEE EACH AND EVERY YEAR, THE ALL-IOWA DANCE TEAM.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE ALL-IOWA HONOR DANCE TEAM IS MAKING ITS 44TH APPEARANCE AT THE IOWA GIRLS STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

95 HIGH SCHOOL DANCE TEAMS ARE REPRESENTED IN THIS YEAR'S ALL-IOWA HONOR DANCE TEAM.

OVER 5 50 DANCERS AUDITIONED AT NEWTON HIGH SCHOOL LAST FALL FOR THE 252 POSITIONS.

REHEARSALS TOOK PLACE AT THE REC PLEX MANY WEST DES MOINES BEGINNING THURSDAY EVENING.

ALL SCHOOLS ARE MEMBERS OF THE IOWA STATE DANCE TEAM ASSOCIATION.

CHOREOGRAPHERS ARE JACKIE, HEATHER, ANDREA AND STACY.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE ALL-IOWA HONOR DANCE TEAM IS KATHY INYARD.

SIT BACK AND ENJOY.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE 2025 ALL-IOWA HONOR DANCE TEAM.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] [EYE OF THE TIGER PLAYING] RISING UP BACK ON THE STREET DID MY TIME TOOK MY CHANCES WENT THE DISTANCE NOW I'M BACK ON MY FEET JUST MAN AND HIS WILL TO SURVIVE SO MANY TIMES IT HAPPENED TOO FAST YOU TRADE YOUR PASSION FOR GLORY DON'T LOSE A GRIP ON THE DREAMS OF THE PAST YOU MUST FIGHT JUST TO KEEP THEM ALIVE IT'S THE EYE OF THE TIGER IT'S THE THRILL OF THE FIGHT RISING UP TO THE CHALLENGE OF OUR RIVALS AND THE LAST KNOWN SURVIVOR IS STALKS HIS PREY IN THE NIGHT AND SHE'S WATCHING THE EYE OF THE TIGER THE EYE OF THE TIGER THE EYE OF THE TIGER THE EYE OF THE TIGER TONIGHT FEELS LIKE WE CAN DO ANYTHING WE LIKE TONIGHT FEELS LIKE THE BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE I'M GOING I'M GOING I'M GOING YEAH PUT YOUR, PUT YOUR PUT YOUR HANDS UP TONIGHT WE GOING TO LEAVE IT ON THE FLOOR TONIGHT WE GOING TO LEAVE IT ON THE FLOOR I KNOW YOU GOT IT YOUR DANCE ON THE FLOOR AND KEEP ON ROCKING ROCKING UP FROM THE FLOOR IF YOU'RE A CRIMINAL COLLECT ON THE FLOOR QUICK ON THE FLOOR ON THE FLOOR DO YOU REMEMBER DO YOU REMEMBER DO YOU REMEMBER THERE AIN'T NO REASON YOU AND ME SHOULD BE ALONE TONIGHT TONIGHT YEAH, BABY I GOD A REASON THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT I NEED A MAN THAT THINKS IT'S RIGHT WHEN IT'S WRONG TONIGHT, YEAH, BABY WE KNOW WE DON'T BELONG TONIGHT IT'S GOING TO FEEL SO GOOD SO DANGEROUS I'M GOING RIGHT TO THE EDGE WITH YOU WHERE WE CAN RUN I'M ON THE EDGE OF FLOOR GLORY AND I'M HANGING ON A MOMENT OF TRUTH I'M ON THE EDGE OF GLORY AND I'M HANGING ON WITH YOU I'M ON THE EDGE THE EDGE THE EDGE THE EDGE THE EDGE I'M ON THE EDGE OF GLORY AND I'M HANGING ALL OVER WITH YOU I'M ON THE EDGE I'M ON THE EDGE WITH YOU I'M STILL STANDING BETTER THAN I EVER DID LOOKING LIKE A TRUE SURVIVOR FEELING LIKE A LITTLE KID I'M STILL STANDING AFTER ALL THIS TIME PICKING UP THE PIECES OF MY LIFE WITHOUT YOU ON MY MIND I'M STILL STANDING YEAH, YEAH, YEAH I'M STILL STANDING YEAH, YEAH, YEAH ONCE I NEVER COULD HAVE HOPED TO WIN STARTING DOWN THE ROAD TO LEAVING ME AGAIN THE THREATS YOU MADE WERE MEANT TO CUT ME DOWN AND IF MY LOVE WAS JUST A CIRCUS YOU'D BE A CLOWN BY NOW NO, I'M STILL STANDING BETTER THAN I EVER DID LOOKING LIKE A TRUE SURVIVOR FEELING LIKE A LITTLE KID I'M STILL STANDING AFTER ALL THIS TIME LOOKING AT THE PIECES OF MY LIFE WITHOUT YOU ON MY MIND I'M STILL STANDING YEAH, YEAH, YEAH I'M STILL STANDING >> THE 2025 ALL-IOWA HONORS DANCE TEAM.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] >> B.J.

: ALWAYS A GREAT SHOW.

GREAT JOB AS ALWAYS.

WE'RE BACK WITH OUR HALFTIME AS XAVIER LEADS NORTH POLK IN THIS 4A FINAL.

>> HALFTIME HERE.

XAVIER LEADS NORTH POLK.

LET'S HAVE OUR ANNUAL CONVERSATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UNION.

IT'S OUR FIRST BASKETBALL CONVERSATION.

WE TALKED DURING SOFTBALL.

THIS TOURNAMENT, THERE'S ALWAYS THIS THING ABOUT WEATHER.

SO MONDAY WE HAD REALLY NICE SUN AND THEN WE HAD SOME SNOW.

THEN WE HAD SOME RAIN.

BEFORE WE GET TO, THAT WE HAD A FIRE ALARM.

>> NEW YORK YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING TO PLAN FOR AN EMERGENCY WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EMERGENCY IS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE SAYS ACTIVATE YOUR EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN, WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE EMERGENCY WAS.

BUT IT WAS KIND OF AN ALARM THAT SOUNDED A LITTLE BIT LIKE SOMETHING FROM THE PURGE.

SO I THINK EVERYBODY WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT IT CLEARED OUT HERE PRETTY QUICKLY.

EVENT STAFF WAS GREAT.

WE FIGURED OUT THE ISSUE AND GOT BACK IN AND KEPT PLAYING BALL.

>> IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE BASKETBALL.

THEN I'LL SAY, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU WERE AT, BUT WHERE I WAS AT, TEAMS DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER.

THEY WERE TALKING TO EACH OTHER.

IT BECAME A NEW NETWORKING EVENT OF SORTS.

>> LAURA: YES, IT WAS A BONDING EXPERIENCE,.

I THINK THEY WERE MAKING TICKTOCKS AND DOING ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF SOME IT'S FANTASTIC.

>> B.J.

: SO THERE'S A LOT OF TEAMS HERE YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN IN MANY SPORTS, WHETHER IT'S VOLLEYBALL OR TRACK OR SOCCER.

I ASKED THEM, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OF SWAG THE GIRLS GET.

I HAVE AN ANSWER.

WHAT IS THE COOLEST YOU THINK YOU'RE GIVING AWAY RIGHT NOW?

>> OH, GOSH, THAT'S TOUGH.

I THINK EVERYBODY LOVES OUR BAG TAGS.

EVERYBODY LOVES THE BAG TAGS BECAUSE THAT'S A COLLECTOR'S ITEM.

THEY CAN SHOWCASE THAT CASUALLY.

>> I HAVE 12, I HAVE SEVEN.

>> WE ALWAYS SEE THAT.

BUT THE FUN THING THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING THAT HAS MAYBE TURNED INTO A BIT OF SWAG THIS TOURNAMENT IS THE CLOTHES PINS, THE PINK CLOTHE PINS, RIGHT, SO THIS IS -- THIS ONE SAYS EMBRACE BEAUTIFUL CHAOS.

COULD THAT BE MORE PERFECT FOR THIS WEEK?

HEIDI THERE OUR OFFICE THOUGHT OF THAT.

THERE IS A DECORATING STATION DOWN THERE.

>> THERE IT IS.

>> IN THE PLAYERS LOUNGE.

SO THEY'RE DECORATING AND DOING SOME OF THAT, THEN THEY'RE RUNNING AROUND SECRETLY FLIPPING IT ON PEOPLE.

I THINK WE HAD AN OFFICIAL GET CLIPPED THE OTHER DAY AND WE'RE LIKE, OKAY, PEOPLE ON THE COURT ARE... >> OFF LIMITS.

>> OFF LIMITS.

BUT, YEAH, SO EVERY TOURNAMENT WE TRIED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THIS WAS FUN, MAYBE A PIECE OF SWAG.

>> I WILL SAY, THEY DID DISAPPEAR.

I HADN'T SEEN THEM TOWARD THE END.

I THINK PEOPLE DID JUST KIND OF POCKET THEM.

>> I MAY HAVE A COUPLE ON MY BACKPACK.

MY DAUGHTER HAS A COUPLE >> THE OTHER THING THEY LIKED IS THE TIARA.

>> THAT'S BEEN A BIG HIT.

IT WAS SOMETHING WE STARTED OVER IN CORALVILLE WITH VOLLEYBALL.

CORALVILLE DID IT FOR US THAT YEAR.

THAT WAS A GIFT FROM THEM.

THEN EVERYBODY...

IT BECAME AN EXPECTATION, ARE WE GOING TO GET THESE?

THIS IS A GREAT IDEA.

LET'S KEEP GOING WITH IT.

EVERYBODY HAS LOVED IT.

>> REALLY QUICK, FAVORITE THING AT THE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FOR YOU IS WHAT?

>> >> I CAN'T PICK ONE THING.

I CAN'T PICK JUST ONE THING.

IT'S THE ENERGY.

IT'S THE ENERGY.

AND SITTING DOWN FLOOR LEVEL, YOU REALLY FEEL THAT.

SO ALL THE SMILEY FACE, SO MANY PEOPLE EXCITED TO BE HERE.

>> YOUR STAFF IS GREAT AND NICE COAT.

>> THIS OLD THING?

ERIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING PART OF OUR HALFTIME.

WE'LL GO TO BREAK.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WITH WE'LL HAVE THE SECOND HALF OF THIS CLASS 4A FINAL AS XAVIER LEADS HERE FROM DES MOINES.

>> BACK AT HALFTIME, HEAD COACH CLINT ALBERTSEN.

SECOND QUARTER, WHAT WAS THE CHANGE?

>> PRETTY STAGNANT ON OFFENSE.

WE MISSED A LOT OF GOOD SHOTS WE REALLY SHOULD MAKE.

WISH WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE OF A LEAD.

THEY MADE SOME SHOTS.

THERE WE HAVE TO MOVE BALL MORE AND GET SOME BETTER LOOKS.

>> YOU HAD AAGARD PLAYING DEFENSE OUT FRONT.

SHE'S A VERY GOOD DEFENDER.

YOU'RE TRYING TO KEEP HER IN THE MIDDLE.

BUT THE OFFENSE AND DEFENSE, EVERYBODY HAS TO PARTISANSHIP UP.

WHAT PART OF THE GAME DO YOU NEED TO HAVE IMPORTANT HERE IN THE SECOND HALF?

>> WELL, YOU ONLY HAVE 22.

YOU HAVE TO SCORE.

WE'RE NOT SCORING ENOUGH.

WE'RE DOING OKAY DEFENSIVELY.

WE HAVE TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR FANDEL.

SOME OF THOSE WERE PRETTY EASY SHOTS.

WE HAVE TO ADJUST SOME THINGS AND KNOCK SOME SHOTS DOWN.

>> APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

HEAD COACH OF NORTH POLK, CLINT ALBERTSEN.

HE'S ECLOUDING TO IT THERE ABOUT SOME OF THAT--TIME.

LET'S LOOK AT THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FIRST HALF.

THIS WAS EARLY ON, NORTH POLK, ABECCA AAGARD.

COACHES HAVE A HARD TIME ON DEFENSE, ANYTHING SHE CAN GIVE THEM ON OFFENSE IS BIG.

THIS IS THE PLAY LAURA TALKED ABOUT.

GRETA DILLINGER HAD A COUPLE BIG THREES, BUT LIBBY FANDEL, AGAIN, LOOK AT THIS PLAYGROUND MOVE ALMOST.

JUST FADEAWAY LEFT RUNNER.

I GUESS THAT'S A MOVE.

NOW HERE'S THE CROSSOVER, PULL-UP GJ, THAT'S A NICE SHOT.

AND HERE IS TWO MORE OF FANDEL'S 16 POINTS.

THAT'S A PRETTY-LOOKING SHOT.

HERE'S HOW OF YOUR FIRST HALF STATS BROKE DOWN.

I'LL LET OUR CREW DOWN ON THE COURT BREAK IT DOWN AS WE GO TO HALF NUMBER TWO BETWEEN XAVIER AND NORTH POLK.

HERE'S B.J.

AND LAURA.

>> B.J.

: THANKS A LOT, PAUL.

WELL, WHAT STANDS OUT THE YOU.

>> LAURA: I THINK THE THREE-POINT SHOOTING, BUT THAT'S NOT A BIG PART OF EITHER OF THESE TEAMS' GAME.

BOTH TEAMS TOOK EIGHT.

DID NOT REALLY CONNECT ON A LOT.

REBOUNDING SIDE, XAVIER IS DOING A GOOD JOB OF GETTING TO THE BOARDS AND KEEPING NORTH POLK TO ONE AND DONE.

NOT MANY TURNOVERS, BUT POINTS IN THE PAINT, XAVIER IS GETTING INSIDE, EVEN THOUGH AAGARD IS IN THERE PROTECTING.

>> B.J.

: POIK POKE JUST TEN SHOTS IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

THEY MADE TWO.

LET'S SEE IF THEY CAN REBOUND HERE IN THE SECOND HALF.

AND FOR XAVIER, CAN THEY KEEP IT CONTINUING, PLAY WITH POISE.

THEIR TURNOVER NUMBERS ARE DOWN.

ONLY THREE THROUGH FIRST 16 MINUTES.

HERE'S WHO IS ON THE FLOOR FOR NORTH POLK.

JADA PODEY, SCHULZ, DILLINGER.

AND FOR THE XAVIER SAINTS, THEY HAVE LIBBY FANDEL, MADDEN WILSON, TAYLOR REXROTH, JASELLE LANG AND ALSO REESE KOMENDA.

SO THE SECOND HALF UNDER WAY.

NORTH POLK DOWN BY NINE.

AND THIS IS THE LARGEST LEAD FOR XAVIER IN THE CONTEST.

COMETS HAD A SIX-POINT LEAD EARLY ON IN THE FIRST HALF, TRYING TO HIT THE BACK DOOR CUT SCREEN.

WELL DEFENDED BY KOMENDA AS NORTH POLK WILL TURN IT OVER.

>> LAURA: YOU HAD THE BALL TO START THE THIRD QUARTER.

YOU WANTED TO MAKE A SPLASH AND GET A BUCKET.

THEY WERE NOT ABLE.

TO THE DEFENSE STEPPED UP.

>> B.J.

: FANDEL THE FADE.

NO.

16 POINTS, 11 REBOUNDS FOR LIBBY FANDEL IN THE FIRST HALF.

DILLINGER WITH SIX.

FANDEL WITH THE STEAL, OUT AHEAD TO LANG.

>> B.J.

: ?OO WELL, THAT'S A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO CREATED AND SCHULZ GOT INSIDE GOING FOR THE HOOP.

BROUGHT THE BALL DOWN.

GUARDS OUT FRONT.

LANG AND WILSON ARE SO TOUGH AND SO QUICK.

>> B.J.

: AND GOING TO THE LINE IS GOING TO BE CAMPBELL SCHULZ.

SHE WAS FOULED BY REESE KOMENDA.

THAT'S HER FIRST.

>> LAURA: SHE'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

COACH SAID SHE IS JUST LETHAL DRIVING TO THE HOOP.

YOU SAW THAT ENERGY AND EXPLOSION.

WHAT SHE CAN DO AND HOW SHE CAN CREATE.

>> B.J.

: 5'9" SOPHOMORE LEADS THE TEAM IN POINTS PER GAME.

13.

NOW WITH FIVE.

SO FAITH SULLIVAN WILL COME IN FOR SCHULZ.

SULLIVAN REALLY A SIXTH STARTER FOR THIS COMETS TEAM.

GETS STARTER MINUTES.

HERE'S LANG.

GIVE-AND-GO WITH WILSON.

THE ATTACK AND THE BUCKET.

>> I'M NOT SURE HOW SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THAT SHOT UP.

SHE JUST SCOOPED IT UP OFF THE DRIBBLE.

>> B.J.

: A TIME-OUT HERE GOING TO BE TAKEN BY NORTH POLK.

25 ON THE SHOT CLOCK WHEN WE RESUME PLAY.

35-24 OUR SCORE HERE.

NORTH POLK, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE TO FIGHT AND SCRAP FOR EVERY POINT THEY GET, AND THINGS ARE GOING EASIER FOR XAVIER.

WHY?

>> WELL, I THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S MOMENTUM, NUMBER ONE, AND THE CONFIDENCE LEVEL OF XAVIER.

THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE ON A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPTICK.

EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING IS FALLING THEIR WAY.

EVERYTHING IS COMING UP XAVIER RIGHT NOW.

AND FOR NORTH POLK, IT'S A SITUATION WHERE YOU'RE HAVING TO GRIND IT OUT AND HAVING TO BATTLE AND FIGHT FOR POSITION AND FIGHT FOR SHOTS AND FIGHT FOR REBOUNDS, AND IT WEARS ON YOU MENTALLY.

GOT TO HAVE SOMETHING GOOD HAPPEN FOR YOUR TAME TO TRY TO GET YOU OUT OF THAT MINDSET.

YOU GOT SHAKE IT LOOSE SOMEHOW.

>> YOU THINK ABOUT CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER.

TOM LILLY SAID HE DIDN'T THINK THIS WOULD EVER HAPPEN.

IN DECEMBER HE WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU NO WAY ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THE TOURNAMENT.

THEY TURNED IT AROUND.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THOSE KEYS FOR THEIR SEASON TO TURN AROUND TO GET TO THIS POINT UP BY NINE WITH 6:25 TO PLAY IN THE THIRD?

>> HI SAID WE WORKED WITH THIS TEAM ON THEIR BASKETBALL I.Q.

I SAID, WELL, HOW DID YOU DO THAT?

HE SAID, WE STARTED TO WATCH GAME FILM.

THE KIDS TOOK TO IT AND REALLY ENJOY WATCHING THE GAME FILM.

THEY JUST HAVE BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE AND MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE GAME AND IT'S KIND OF A BONDING MOMENT FOR THIS TEAM.

>> B.J.

: GREAT DEFENSE BY KOMENDA.

>> TO THE CORNER.

REXROTH GETS THE ROLL.

>> LAURA: GOT THE FRIENDLY TOUCH.

SHE CONTINUES TO BE ON FIRE, JUST LIKE DILLINGER CAUGHT FIRE FOR NORTH POLK IN THAT SEMIFINAL GAME.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND HER ALONE OUT ON THE PERIMETER TO GIVE THEM A SHOT ON THIS END.

>> B.J.

: HERE'S AAGARD AND ONE.

>> THAT'S THE KIND OF BUCKET RIGHT THERE THAT WILL HELP SPARK A TEAM WHEN YOU JUST KIND OF HAVE BEEN TRUDGING THROUGH MUD, TRYING TO MAKE THE RIGHT THING HAPPEN.

THAT'S THE KIND OF BUCKET AND THE KIND OF PLAY THAT CAN MAKE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN FOR THIS COME IT TEAM.

THEY HAVE A SIZE ADVANTAGE GOING INSIDE.

REXROTH ON THE BACK SIDE.

TRIED TO STAY STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN AND VERTICAL BUT JUST COULD NOT GET IT DONE.

>> AAGARD, THE REBOUND TAPPED AROUND.

FANDEL WILL COME UP WITH IT.

AAGARD WILL BE CALLED FOR THE FOUL.

I BEG YOUR PARDON.

THAT'S ON FANDEL.

THAT'S HER FIRST.

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING CALL.

EVERYBODY WAS SCRAPPING FOR THAT LOOSE BALL.

AND FANDEL IS GOING TO PICK UP THAT FOUL.

>> B.J.

: SCHULZ BACK OUT ON TTD FLOOR.

SHE'LL COME IN FOR PODEY.

CAMPBELL TRYING TO USE THE SCREEN HIGH.

DUMP DOWN TO AAGARD.

TOUGH PASS.

A FOUL CALLED AGAINST XAVIER.

GOES AGAINST TAYLOR REXROTH.

THAT WILL BE HER SECOND.

MAKE IT HER THIRD.

>> LAURA: YOU CAN SEE THINGS STARTING TO SLIDE OVER AND THE MENTALITY OF THE COMETS STARTING TO PICK UP, STARTING TO GAIN THAT LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE BACK PLAYING THEIR STYLE OF BALL.

>> B.J.

: JUSTIN DOHERTY BACK INTO THE GAME FOR REXROTH.

INSIDE TUTTLE CAN'T GET THE BUNY.

AAGARD TOO STRONG.

REBOUND OUT TO SULLIVAN.

NORTH POLK LOOKS TO RESET.

>> B.J.

: AAGARD.

THAT ONE WENT DOWN TO HER ANKLES.

IT WILL BE TAKEN AWAY BY WILSON.

CRAZY PASSES.

DORRITY SOMEHOW ENDS UP WITH IT BUT SULLIVAN WITH THE STEAL.

NUMBERS FOR THE COMETS.

GREAT GET-BACK DEFENSE BY XAVIER.

INSIDE SCHULZ WILL GO TO THE LINE TO SHOOT TWO.

IT LOOKS LIKE LANG A LITTLE SLOW TO GET UP.

>> JUST A FLURRY OF ACTIVITY DRAWS THE DOUBLE TEAM.

GOOD LOOK.

NICE BOUNCE PASS INSIDE.

AND LANG GOT JUST A LITTLE ELBOW TO THE FOREHEAD.

KNOCKED HER TO THE GROUND.

BUT INTENSITY LEVEL IS PICKING UP FOR THE COMETS.

>> B.J.

: SCHULZ ABLE TO HIT THE FREE THROW.

OKAY.

WE'RE NEARLY HALFWAY THROUGH THE THIRD QUARTER.

LIBBY FANDEL, SHE HASN'T HAD REALLY A TOUCH YET.

>> LAURA: NOT REALLY.

SHE'S HAD HER HANDS ON THE BALL, BUT NOTHING IN A SPOT WHERE SHE CAN REALLY MAKE THINGS HAPPEN THE WAY SHE DID IN THE FIRST HALF.

>> B.J.

: A LITTLE PRESSURE.

WILSON WILL BREAK IT.

THE PASS STOLEN BY SULLIVAN.

>> LAURA: HOW ABOUT SULLIVAN COMING INTO THIS BALLGAME AND MAKING SOME THINGS HAPPEN FOR THIS TEAM?

>> B.J.

: A LITTLE ENERGY OFF THE BENCH?

AAGARD TO THE RACK.

YES!

>> LAURA: THAT'S WHERE NORTH POLK FEELS LIKE THEY HAVE THE ADVANTAGE.

YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY LEFT THE MIDDLE WIDE OPEN.

THEY WENT TO ALL CORNERS OF THE FLOOR AND LET HER WORK ONE ON ONE.

COACH LILLY SAYS, ALL RIGHT, WE NEED TO TAKE A TIME-OUT AND TALK ABOUT THIS.

>> LAURA: A 14-POINT LEAD IS CUT DOWN EIGHT.

LET'S GO INSIDE OF THE HUDDLE TO HEAR MORE.

>> GOOD WORK.

GOOD WORK.

ALL RIGHT.

ONE -- 11 AND THEN INTO 1.

>> 11 IS THERE.

KEEP FEEDING THEM UP.

IF YOU'RE A SAFETY, TALK TO THE OTHER SAFETY.

I WANT ON DEFLECTIONS, LOOSE BALLS, WE GOT TO GET GOING THE OTHER WAY.

WE HAVE TO CREATE OFFENSE OUT OF THAT DEFENSE.

OKAY.

NO SECOND SHOTS.

GOT TO REBOUND.

>> ONE, TWO, THREE, COMETS.

>> LAURA: THEY'RE STARTING TO PLAY AROUND DEFENSIVELY.

THEY WANT TRAPPERS UP TOP.

THEY WANT INTERCEPTORS ON THE WINGS AND THE SAFETY IS BACK.

TALK TO ONE ANOTHER.

MAKE SURE YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, BE IN POSITION.

BUT MAKE SURE YOU'RE TALKING.

TURN THAT DEFENSE INTO OFFENSE.

THAT'S BAN GOOD RECIPE FOR THEM ALL SEASON LONG.

>> B.J.

: 38-30.

XAVIER WITH THE ADVANTAGE.

NORTH POLK ON A 6-0 RUN.

WILSON WILL GO TO FANDEL.

>> PICKED UP BY PUTNAM AVENUE.

INSIDE FANDEL'S PASS TAKEN AWAY BY SULLIVAN.

FAYTHE SULLIVAN, THREE STEALS, AND THEY HAVE COME AT BIG MOMENTS FOR NORTH POLK.

DOWN THE STRETCH AND NOW GETS THE AND ONE.

>> LAURA: HOW ABOUT AN IGNITER.

SHE'S IGNITING THE FLAME HERE FOR THE COMETS.

GETS THE STEAL WITH THE HELP OF AAGARD, PLAYING VERY GOOD DEFENSE ON FANDEL.

AND THEN DECIDES NOBODY IS PICKING ME UP, I'M GOING TO TAKE IT ALL THE WAY.

>> B.J.

: CAN'T GET THE FREE THROW OF XAVIER.

THE REBOUND TO DORRITY.

>> LAURA: HERE'S A TIME WHEN YOU NEED TO STEP UP AND HAVE A GOOD OFFENSIVE SET.

YOU HAVE TO FIND THAT PACE AND THAT POSITION WHERE YOU CAN GET THE HIGH-PERCENTAGE SHOT.

DON'T RUSH THINGS, DON'T PANIC RIGHT NOW.

THE DEFENSE GOING TO CONTINUE TO COME RIGHT AT YOU.

>> B.J.

: XAVIER IS ROCKING A LITTLE BIT.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE BAND.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING A LITTLE BACK.

>> THE BOAT IS LEAKING A LITTLE BIT.

ROCKING BACK AND FORTH.

>> B.J.

: BROOKLYN EMERSON NOW INTO THE CONTEST FOR XAVIER.

AND AAGARD WILL PICK UP THE FOUL.

GOING TO THE LINE WILL BE MADDEN WILSON.

>> LAURA: A LITTLE BETTER MOVEMENT WITHOUT THE BASKETBALL FOR XAVIER.

THEY KIND OF HAD GOTTEN AWAY FROM THAT.

THAT WAS BECAUSE NORTH POLK WAS PLAYING SO AGGRESSIVELY, GETTING THEM OUT OF THEIR SPOTS.

THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO RUN THROUGH THE LANES THEY WANTED TO RUN THROUGH.

>> B.J.

: WILSON 63% ON THE SEASON.

FIRST TEAM ALL MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CONFERENCE PLAYER.

NOW IN DOUBLE FIGURES WITH TEN.

>> LAURA: SHE BATTLED A KNEE INJURY A YEAR AGO.

HAS BATTLED BACK FROM THAT.

HAVING A FINE SEASON THIS YEAR.

>> B.J.

: SCHULZ TO AAGARD UP HIGH THAT.

WILL GET YOU TWO.

>> LAURA: THAT'S BECOME THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER.

THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO.

THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO INSIDE AAGARD UNTIL XAVIER CAN FIND A WAY TO SHUT IT DOWN.

>> B.J.

: IN DOUBLE FIGURES WITH TEN.

FANDEL LOOKS TO TURN IT ON.

FOULED AND WILL GO TO THE LINE WHOM IS THIS ON?

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE ON SULLIVAN.

THAT WILL BE HER SECOND.

>> LAURA: YOU CAN TELL THIS DEFENSE IS STARTING TO GET IN THE HEAD OF XAVIER.

THEY'RE STARTING TO SPEED UP, GETTING A LITTLE TIGHT ON SOME OF THEIR PASSES, MAYBE QUESTIONING A LITTLE BUILT ABOUT THEIR DECISIONS.

>> B.J.

: JADA PODEY BACK IN FOR NORTH POLK.

GRETA DILLINGER BACK OUT.

FAN FAB WILL HIT BOTH.

NOW WITH 18.

THE LEAD BACK TO EIGHT.

>> LAURA: POKE POCK IN THE BONUS AS XAVIER IS AT FIVE FOULS.

A CHANCE FOR THEM TO GET INTO ATTACK MODE.

REALLY AN UNFORCED TURNOVER THERE.

JUST MISCOMMUNICATION.

>> B.J.

: THAT'S THE TENTH TURNOVER TODAY.

NORTH POLK CAME INTO THE CONTEST AVERAGING SEVEN.

SO AN UNCHARACTERISTIC DAY, AND WE STILL HAVE THE FOURTH QUARTER TO GO.

HERE'S DORRITY.

BOY, THE FRESHMAN LOOKED SMOOTH ON THAT JUMPER.

>> SHE REALLY DID.

SHE STEPPED OUT FROM WHERE AGUARD WAS ON THE DEFENSE.

SHE GOT SOME SEPARATION AND CALMLY KNOCKED DOWN A BIG BUCKET.

>> B.J.

: PODEY TO SCHULZ, WHAT A BACK-DOOR CUT.

>> THAT WAS A GREAT CUT AND WHAT A LOOK ON THE INSIDE.

JUST AGAIN VERY MUCH PRESSURE OUT FRONT JUST TO LOOK OVER THE SHOULDER AND FIND A TEAMMATE CUTTING ON THE BASELINE.

>> B.J.

: HERE'S LANG.

FANDEL WILL LAUNCH.

IT HITS!

>> LAURA: AND FAYTHE SULLIVAN JUST TURNED AND DROPED HER HEAD, KNOWING SHE HAD GOOD DEFENSE ON FANDEL.

>> B.J.

: TUTTLE NO.

DY NEED BY DOOR.

..

IT WILL STAY WITH NORTH POLK.

>> LAURA: WE'RE GOING TO GET A LOOK AT JUST THE DEFENSE RIGHT THERE.

SULLIVAN HAND OUT, HAND IN THE FACE, BUT THEN JUMPS UP AND KNOCKS ONE DOWN.

>> B.J.

: BACK AT IT FANDEL.

INSTANT OFFENSE.

>> LAURA: INSTANT OFFENSE.

NOW SHE'S STARTING TO TAKE OVER.

>> B.J.

: AND A TIME-OUT GOING TO BE TAKEN HERE BY NORTH POLK.

1:07 TO PLAY HERE IN THE THIRD QUARTER.

NORTH POLK WAS ABLE TO TRIM THIS ONE DOWN TO SIX AT ONE POINT.

NOW A 7-0 RUN.

BECCA AAGARD THE REASON WHY NORTH POLK IS ABLE TO GET BACK INTO THIS GAME.

>> LAURA: YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THERE SHE'S GOING TO HAVE THE HEIGHT ADVANTAGE.

THEY'RE LEAVING THE MIDDLE WIDE OPEN FOR HER.

AND SHE IS MUSCLING THE BALL UP TO THE RIM.

AND THE LAST TIME THESE TWO TEAMS MET EARLY IN JANUARY, SHE ONLY HAD ONE POINT IN THAT BALLGAME.

SO NOW THEY ARE STARTING TO UTILIZE HER AND HER HEIGHT DOWN LOW.

>> B.J.

: 49-36.

1:07 TO PLAY HERE IN THE THIRD QUARTER.

AND XAVIER TRYING TO WIN THEIR SIXTH STATE TITLE AND NORTH POLK WANTING TO COME BACK TO GET THEIR SCHOOL'S FIRST-EVER CHAMPIONSHIP.

AND LIBBY FANDEL, 23 POINTS, 8-12 SHOOTING, 11 REBOUNDS AS WELL.

SHE WAS QUIET FOR MOST OF THE THIRD QUARTER, BUT SHE CAME ON WHEN SHE NEEDED TO.

>> LAURA: JUST ALL OF THE SUDDEN.

SHE WAS ALLOWING THINGS TO COME TO HER.

SHE LET A TEAMMATE CREATE, MAKE SOME THINGS HAPPEN.

NOW HERE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MINUTES, SHE'S BEEN THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN THE AGGRESSOR AND THE ONE GETTING TO THE HOOP.

>> NOW SCHULZ WILL PUT IT IN PLAY INTO PODEY ALONG WITH TUTTLE, AAGARD AND DILLINGER.

FOR XAVIER, IT'S FANDEL, DORRITY, ALONG WITH EMERSON, AND HERE'S AAGARD AGAIN ON THE DRIVE.

SHE'LL FINISH IT.

>> LAURA: SAW TWO DEFENDERS IN FRONT OF HER.

AAGARD JUST SLIPPED RIGHT TO THE BASKET.

>> B.J.

: LANG AND WILSON ALSO OUT THERE FOR XAVIER.

HERE'S FANDEL GOING TO FOULED BY AAGARD THAT.

WILL BE HER SECOND.

FOURTH TEAM FOUL THIS QUARTER ON NORTH POLK.

>> LAURA: AND A LOT OF THOSE FOULS HAVE BEEN BECAUSE XAVIER HAS BEEN ATTACKING THE BASKET.

>> B.J.

: FANDEL WILL PUSH XAVIER TO 51.

TUTTLE COULDN'T GET THE BACK-DOOR CUT AS DORRITY WAS ABLE TO KICK IT AWAY.

LIBBY INTO THE FRONT COURT.

UNDERNEATH LANG BLOCKED BY TUTTLE.

THAT'S FIRST BLOCK OF THE DAY BY NORTH POLK.

THEY CAME INTO THIS GAME LEADING THE STATE IN BLOCKS, AND THEY FINALLY GET THEIR FIRST ONE TODAY FROM TUTTLE.

>> LAURA: I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW FANDEL SAW LANG UNDERNEATH.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN BETWEEN HER AND LANG WAS CUTTING IN THERE AS WELL.

>> B.J.

: SHOT CLOCK IS OFF.

WILSON HAD IT KNOCKED AWAY FOR A SECOND.

NOW THEY GET IT TO FANDEL.

INSIDE OF EIGHT.

LIBBY FIRES.

NOT THERE.

AND A FOUL ON TUTTLE.

AND THAT WILL BE HER FOURTH.

AND TO THE LINE WITH BROOKLYN EMERSON.

>> LAURA: YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN A SHOT CLOCK IS WINDING DOWN, GAME CLOCK IS WINDING DOWN AT THE #ED OF THE QUARTER FOREND OF THE BALLGAME, YOU WANT TO GET THAT SHOT UP WITH A LITTLE TIME LEFT ON THE CLOCK SO YOU CAN MAYBE GET A REBOUND.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

FANDEL GOT THAT SHOT UP EARLY WITH TIME STILL LEFT ON THAT GAME CLOCK, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO COME AWAY WITH THEORY BOUND.

>> B.J.

: PODEY WILL COME IN FOR TUTTLE.

MISSED FREE THROW.

DOWN TO ONE SECOND.

HALF-COURT HEAVE.

ON THE MARK FOR PODEY.

SO WE HAVE PLAYED FOUR QUARTERS, XAVIER LEADS IT 51-38 OVER XAVIER.

WELL, YOU TALK ABOUT THE PAGEANTRY OF THE GIRL'S STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT AND THEN THERE IS THE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE OF THE OPENING CEREMONY TIPPING OFF THE SEMIFINALS, THE COLOR GUARD MARKED A MILESTONE THIS YEAR, AND SHARED A MEMORY WITH US.

>> NOW, DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE GOT THAT EAGLE CAUGHT IN THE BASKETBALL NET?

>> YEAH.

WE HAVE BEEN HONORED TO PRESENT THE COLORS AT THE BASKETBALL GAMES FOR 60-PLUS YEARS.

IT'S A WONDERFUL FEELING.

AND WE LOVE TO DO IT.

IT'S ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

IT'S A GLORIOUS THING.

>> WOW.

ALL PART OF IT HERE AT THE GIRLS STATE BACK TOURNAMENT.

WE HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING OUR COVERAGE HERE ON IOWA PBS.

WE'RE IN THE CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

HOW ABOUT THIS, LIBBY FANDEL NOW AT 1,984 CAREER POINTS, 25 ON THE DAY HERE.

WHAT A FANTASTIC PERFORMANCE.

>> IT REALLY HAS BEEN, AND IT'S BEEN TIMES WHERE SHE HAS TAKEN OVER BALLGAMES.

IT'S BEEN TIMES WHEN SHE STEPPED BACK AND ALLOWED HER TEAMMATES TO JUMP INTO THAT SCORING COLUMN AS WELL.

SHE KNOWS WHEN IT GETS DOWN CRUNCH TIME, THEY WANT THE BALL IN HER HANDS AND SHE KNOWS HOW THE RESPOND.

>> B.J.

: FOR NORTH POLK, ONE QUARTER TO GO.

WHAT CAN THEY DO TO GET BACK IN THIS AND WIN IT?

>> LAURA: IT'S DEFENSE FOR THEM.

THEY HAVE TO STEP UP.

THEY HAVE TO MAKE SOME STEALS.

THEY HAVE TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR XAVIER TO GET ANY GOOD-QUALITY LOOKS.

THEN THEY NEED TO START CONNECTING.

I THINK YOU CONTINUE TO POUND IT INTO AAGARD.

LET HEIFER WORK.

GET SOME SHOTS.

MAYBE GET SOME AND ONES.

>> B.J.

: TO START THE FOURTH QUARTER, ABBY TUTTLE WILL BE OUT THERE WITH WITH FOUR PERSONAL FOULS.

SHE'S JOINED BY DILLINGER, PODEY.

FOR XAVIER, LIBBY FANDEL, MADDEN WILSON, TAYLOR REXROTH, AND REESE KOMENDA.

NORTH POLK SUCCESSFUL.

ABLE TO TRIM A LARGE REED ALL THE WAY DOWN SIX, BUT NOW WE'RE SITTING AT 13.

THIS JUMPER OFF THE MARK, AND AN OFFENSIVE BOARD FOR XAVIER.

>> LAURA: I THINK PODEY WAS SENDING A MESSAGE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE QUARTER, THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE FOR EIGHT MINUTES.

>> B.J.

: TUTTLE OUT AHEAD UNDERNEATH.

SCHULZ CAN'T GET IT.

>> THOSE ARE THE ONES THEY HAVE TO MAKE.

THIS QUARTER YOU HAVE TO MAKE THOSE.

THEY MISSED A FAIR AMOUNT OF THOSE.

>> B.J.

: REBOUND.

AGAIN, ANOTHER OFFENSIVE REBOUND.

CAVIER, THEY HAVE BEEN RUN AND GUN FOR MOST OF THE NIGHT, BUT NOW WITH A DOUBLE-DIGIT LEAD HERE, PLAYING WITH SOME POISE AS FAP FAN WILL HEAD BACK TO THE LINE.

AAGARD WILL PICK UP HER THIRD.

>> LAURA: TALKED ABOUT OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS.

XAVIER HAS TEN OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS.

SO.

THAT IS ANOTHER POSSESSION FOR YOU.

YOU CAN HANDLE THE BALL FOR ANOTHER 35 SECONDS.

YOU CAN RUN YOUR OFFENSE.

THE MORE TIME THAT.

BALL IS NOT IN THE OPPONENTS HAND.

>> IT'S THE 11TH FREE THROW TODAY BY LIBBY FANDEL.

CONNECTS ON BOTH.

WAS THE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM CAPTAIN IN CLASS 4A HER FRESHMAN SEASON.

GUIDING THEM TO THEIR LAST EIGHT TITLES.

THAT WAS BACK IN 2021.

HERE'S AAGARD.

AND ONE.

REXROTH WILL PICK UP HER FOURTH.

>> LAURA: REXROTH TRIED TO GET IN FOGS GIT CHARGE, BUT DID NOT HAVE THE FEET SET.

AAGARD ALREADY IN MOTION OF GOING TO THE HOOP.

>> B.J.

: AAGARD TO THE LINE AND HITS THE FREE THROW.

>> LAURA: AAGARD SINGLE-HANDEDLY KEEPING THEM IN THIS BALLGAME.

I THINK YOU CONTINUE TO GET THE BALL IN HER HANDS EVERY POSSESSION.

>> B.J.

: 16 POINTS, SEVEN REBOUNDS FOR AAGARD.

FANDEL DRIVES AND FINISHES.

>> LAURA: SCHULZ IS RIGHT THERE ON HER.

MAYBE GOT A LITTLE PIECE OF, THAT BUT FANDEL ABLE TO MUSCLE IT UP.

>> B.J.

: HERE'S PODEY FOR THREE.

>> LAURA: GOOD LOOK AND THOSE WERE SOME OF THE SHOTS THEY NEED TO FALL.

AND I WAS JUST THINKING, IF SHE SKIPPED THAT PASSED, YOU HAVE NOT REALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THREE-POINT LOOKS.

YOU KNOW WHO HAS NOT TOUCHED BALL IS GRETA DILLINGER.

SHE HAD THE HOT HAND IN THE SEMIFINALS AND HAS KNOCKED DOWN A COUPLE HERE IN THIS BALLGAME.

>> AGAIN, SAINTS BEING PATIENT.

BASELINE JUMPER KNOCKED DOWN BY REXROTH.

SHE HAS EIGHT.

>> SHE HAS HAD A VERY GOOD SEMIFINAL, AND A GOOD GAME HERE IN THE FINALS.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A FOUL I BELIEVE ON AAGARD.

THAT WOULD BE NUMBER FOUR.

>> B.J.

: TAKE A LOOK AT THIS RIP BY REXROTH.

>> LAURA: SHE HAD THE HAND IN THE PASSING LANE THE ENTIRE WAY.

AAGARD, IF SHE WANTS THAT BALL, SHE HAS TO STEP IN FRONT OF THAT DEFENDER AND CALL FOR THE BALL.

>> B.J.

: REXROTH IS GOING TO CHECK OUT.

SO IS AAGARD.

TAYLOR OKAY.

COMES FROM A TOUGH FAMILY.

HER BROTHER PLAYS FOOTBALL AT IOWA.

GOT TO IMAGINE, SHE MIGHT HAVE HELPED HIM OUT IN THE BACKYARD AND USED TO THAT CONTACT.

HERE'S A FOUL, DILLINGER NORTH POLK'S STRATEGY NOW DOWN BY 16, JUST LENGTHEN OUT THE GAME HERE.

>> LAURA: WELL, THE PRESSURE NEEDS TO BE UP.

PASSING LANES DON'T GIVE UP ANYTHING EASY.

TOM LILLY THINKING THE SAME THING YOU ARE, WHAT THEY NEED TO TALK ABOUT FOR THE LAST FIVE MINUTES OR SO.

>> B.J.

: WE ASKED A LOT OF COACHES HERE THIS WEEK, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE LIBBY FANDEL'S GAME.

THEY EACH CAME BACK WITH A STORY THAT SAID SHE PLAYS WITH A CHIP ON HER SHOULDER.

EVERY NIGHT.

>> SHE DOES.

I MEAN, SHE REALLY PLAYS WITH A LOT OF PASSION AND A LOT OF INTENSITY AND A LITTLE BIT OF A CHIP.

>> B.J.

: LET'S GO INSIDE THEIR HUDDLE.

>> YOU HAVE TO FIND GAPS.

FIND GAPS.

ALL RIGHT.

WE GOOD?

ALL RIGHT.

WE DON'T HAVE TIME.

HERE WE GO, HERE WE GO.

>> B.J.

: KIND OF TOUGH TO PICK UP, BUT IT'S TOUGH TO COACH WHEN YOU'RE UP BY 16 DURING YOUR FINAL GAME WITH 5:38 TO PLAY.

>> LAURA: ONE THING COACH LILLY TOLD US, HE HAS, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS TEAM, LET THEM GET INVOLVED AND GET SOME FEEDBACK ON WHAT THEY WANT TO RETURN AND HOW ARE THEY COMFORTABLE RUNNING THIS, WHAT DO THEY THINK THEY SHOULD DO IN CERTAIN MOMENTS.

I KNOW IT'S THE FOURTH QUARTER OF THE GAMABLE BUT SOME PLAYERS GAVE THEIR OPINION AND SAID, HERE'S WHAT I THINK COULD WORK WELL FOR US.

>> STRONG SHOT BY WILSON.

DAUGHERTY WITH THE REBOUND.

WILSON AGAIN, CAN'T GET IT TO FALL.

TUTTLE WITH THE BOARD.

>> LAURA: THERE'S WHERE YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THEM PULL IT ULTRAOF YOU'RE XAVIER, RUN LATE BIT MORE CLOCK.

>> B.J.

: PODEY DOESN'T TAKING THE THREE.

THE SECOND TEAM FOUL CALLED AGAINST COMAIFIER HERE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.

WILSON, THAT'S HER FIRST.

SO TAYLOR REXROTH BACK INTO THE GAME.

REPLACING LANG.

DILLINGER FOR THREE.

SHE WAS ON LINE.

JUST COULDN'T GET IT TO GO DOWN.

>> LAURA: THEY NEED TO FIND HER A LITTLE BIT MORE.

GET HER SOME SHOTS TO HELP THEM CLIMB BACK IN.

>> B.J.

: FIVE TO PLAY.

>> LAURA: COULD USE SOME BIG THREE POINTERS.

>> B.J.

: FANDEL WILL TAKE A THREE.

A 30-PIECE ON THE DAY FOR LIBBY FANDEL.

32 EXACTLY.

>> LAURA: A PATIENT SET, DRIBBLE-DRIVE, KICK IT OUT.

DEFENSE DID NOT ADJUST.

>> B.J.

: SULLIVAN GOING TO BE FOULED.

>> LAURA: THE DRIBBLE-DRIVE AND THE KICK-OUT AND NOW NOTHING BUT NET.

NOW FANDEL CHASING THAT 2,000-POINT CAREER MARK.

>> 1991, 1,991 CAREER POINTS IS WHERE LIBBY FANDEL IS AT.

>> LAURA: WELL, SHE MAY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ECLIPSE THAT 2,000-POINT CAREER MARK.

WHEN THE TOURNAMENT STARTED,ER JUST LOOKED AND SAW THAT LITTLE NOTE THAT SHE NEEDED THOSE POINTS TO GET -- WAS IT 99 SHE NEEDED.

>> B.J.

: YEAH.

>> LAURA: I THOUGHT, SHE CAN'T DO THAT.

WELL, SHE'S GOING TO MOVE ME WRONG I THINK.

>> B.J.

: SHE'S BEEN PROVING A LOT OF PEOPLE WRONG.

HERE'S SULLIVAN OUT AHEAD.

YOU NEED TO GET OUT, YOU NEED THE PRESSURE.

YOU HAVE TO TURN DEFENSE INTO OFFENSE.

>> HERE'S DORRITY.

BUCKET BY KOMENDA.

>> LAURA: I REALLY LIKE WHAT DORRITY BRINGS TO THIS TEAM.

WHEN SHE'S ON THE FLOOR, SHE'S SEEING THE FLOOR.

SHE'S AWARE OF HER SURROUNDINGS.

SHE UNDERSTANDS WHO AND WHERE TO GIT THE BALL.

>> B.J.

: XAVIER ABLE TO BREAK THE PRESSURE.

WILSON ON THE DRIVE TO JUSTIN DOHERTY.

SHE WILL FIRE.

CAN'T GET IT TO FALL.

THE REBOUND TO SULLIVAN.

>> LAURA: GOT TO BE EFFICIENT IF YOU'RE NORTH POLK.

GOT SCORE IN A HURRY.

>> B.J.

: STEAL BY FANDEL.

62-44.

CLOCK TIME.

A FOUL IS GOING TO BE CALLED.

IT WILL BE THE FIFTH ON AAGARD.

WELL, STAY CONNECTED WITH IOWA PBS SPORTS.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND X AND USE #IOWAPBSSPORTS TO ENJOY THE CHIP KIP WITH OTHER FANS.

FOR BECCA AAGARD WHRARK A CAREER.

WILL FINISH WITH 17 POINTS AND SEVEN REBOUNDS FOR NORTH POLK.

SHE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT ON THIS TEAM AND A CONSTANT ON DEFENSE.

NUMBER ONE SHOT BLOCKER IN 4A.

DIDN'T GET A WHOLE LOT OF BLOCKS HERE TODAY.

BUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE TOURNAMENT HAD BLOCKS AND SHOWED HER DOMINANCE IN THE MIDDLE.

TODAY SHOWED HER DOMINANCE AS FAR AS SCORING THE BASKETBALL.

LIBBY TO BE ATTACK, IN THE LANE, HAS THAT ONE DEFLECTED OUT.

LAST TOUCHED BY NORTH POLK.

FOUR ON THE SHOT CLOCK.

>> LAURA: REALLY GOOD DEFENSE.

I THINK IT WAS CAMPBELL SHUTS THAT WAS IN THERE, GOT HAND ON THAT ONE.

>> B.J.

: LANG WILL INBOUND TO FANDEL.

CAN'T GET IT TO FALL.

SULLIVAN'S THREE.

>> LAURA: NOBODY GOINGED TO CLASS FOR NORTH POLK.

THEY'RE TRYING TO RELY ON THOSE THREE POINTERS.

>> B.J.

: FANDEL GETS THE TWO.

NOW SEVEN POINTS AWAY FROM 2,000 IN HER CAREER.

TWO MINUTES TO PLAY.

SULLIVAN FOULED BY WILSON AND FAYTHE SULLIVAN WILL HEAD TO THE LINE.

>> LAURA: NOBODY PICKS UP FANDEL AND SHE JUST TAKES HER RIGHT TO THE RACK.

>> B.J.

: XAVIER LEADING IT BY 20 WITH TWO MINUTES TO PLAY.

AND SULLIVAN CONNECTS ON THE FREE THROW.

>> LAURA: WE TALKED ABOUT THAT MATCHUP THAT NORTH POLK WON.

THERE WERE TWO QUARTERS WHERE NORTH POLK HILTD XAVIER TO JUST EIGHT POINTS.

HERE IN THE SECOND EXEART OF THIS BALLGAME, XAVIER HAS HELD NORTH POLK TO NINE POINTS.

RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE HELD THEM TO SIX POINTS.

>> LAURA: SOFIA BOUCHARD AND LAUREN OSBORNE INTO THE CONTEST.

>> B.J.

: A FOUL HERE BY SULLIVAN.

ANOTHER HARD FOUL AS SULLIVAN WILL PICK UP HER THIRD.

>> LAURA: THAT WAS CHEEKBONE TO CHEEKBONE AND SULLIVAN WAS REACHING IN TRYING TO STRIP THE BASKETBALL.

BOTH OF THEM KIND OF TRYING TO SHAKE IT OFF.

RIGHT THERE, CHEEK TO CHEEK.

PRETTY GOOD COLLISION.

BOAT OF THEM GET UP AND SULLIVAN ASKING HER IF SHE'S OKAY.

I THINK THAT FANDEL WAS ASKING SULLIVAN, ARE YOU OKAY?

>> B.J.

: IF YOU'RE TOM LILLY, DO YOU LET HER CHASE 2,000 WITH A SIZEABLE LEAD HERE?

>> LAURA: YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE...

HE TURNED TO ONE OF HIS ASSISTANT COACHES AND, "HOW MUCH DOES SHE NEED.

SHE FLASHED FIVE."

>> B.J.

: THAT'S CORRECT.

>> LAURA: SO I THINK HE'S GOING TO LEAVE HER IN THERE AND LET HER TRY TO DO IT.

>> HERE'S SULLIVAN.

MORE ABOUT A MILESTONE THAN RUBBING SALT IN THE WOUND AS TUTTLE WILL KNOCK DOWN THE JUMPER.

>> LAURA: TUTTLE NEVER GOT ON TRACK TODAY.

THEY KENT HER UNDER WRAPS PRESENT THE GOOD AND DIDN'T LET HER HAVE THAT FREE REIGN OUT IN FRONT TO GET THINGS GOING AND GET THIS OFFENSE THE POINTS THAT THEY NEEDED.

>> B.J.

: HELD TO JUST THREE ASSISTS.

>> LAURA: I'M NOT SURE IF FANDEL IS AWARE OF WHERE SHE'S AT.

>> B.J.

: SHE'S NOT.

>> LAURA: I THINK SHE'S JUST CONTENT TO RUN THIS OUT.

>> B.J.

: KANSAS IS GOING TO GET A GOOD ONE IN LIBBY FANDEL.

>> LAURA: IT'S GOING TO BE FUN TO FOLLOW HER CAREER COLLEGIATELY OVER THE NEXT FOUR TO SEE WHAT SHE DOES AND THEY'RE GOING TO GET THAT TIME OUT AND GET THE SUBSTITUTIONS IN.

>> B.J.

: THEY WILL CHECK HER OUT OF THE GAME 47 SECONDS TO PLAY.

A 19-POINT LEAD.

NORTH POLK WILL ALSO CLEAR THINGS OUT.

WHAT A CAREER FOR LIBBY FANDEL AND FOR ABBY TUTTLE.

TUTTLE SETTLING THE SCHOOL RECORD FOR NORTH POLK IN ASSISTS.

HEADING TO NORTHERN IOWA.

AND FOR FANDEL, TOM LILLY SAYS BY FAR IN HIS 41 YEARS, SHE IS THE BEST PLAYER HE'S EVER COACHED.

SHE'S ALSO THE MOST PASSIONATE PLAYER SHE'S EVER COACHED.

>> LAURA: YOU LOOK AT THAT NORTH POLK LINEUP.

FOUR SENIORS HAVE STARTED.

THEY ALL HAVE HAD TREMENDOUS CAREERS.

WE HAVE HAD FUN WATCHING THEM OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR MANY YEARS AT NORTH POLK.

IT'S BEEN FUN TO WATCH THEM PLAY.

TUTTLE WILL HAVE A GREAT CAREER AT NORTHERN IOWA.

>> B.J.

: SHOT CLOCK VIOLATION.

SO XAVIER GOING TO BRING HOME ANOTHER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, THEIRS FIRST SINCE 2022, THEIR SIXTH OVERALL.

AND WHAT A FITTING END FOR TOM LILLY.

HE'S A LEGEND IN HIS 41 YEARS, NOT ONLY IN CEDAR RAPIDS BUT IN THE STATE OF IOWA.

STARTED AT REGIS AND THEN WHEN THE SCHOOLS MERGED OVER THE XAVIER.

>> LAURA: HE ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT WHEN THEY WERE COMING HOME FROM DAVENPORT ASSUMPTION.

HE SAID, IT'S GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT ON MY OWN TERMS.

>> B.J.

: HE'S CERTAINLY DONE THAT.

WITH THE SHOT CLOCK OFF, XAVIER WILL DRIBBLE OUT THE CLOCK.

MACIE HERTING WILL DO THE CHORES AS THE XAVIER SAINTS ARE GOING TO BE YOUR 2025 4A STATE CHAMPS.

>> LAURA: WHAT A BALLGAME BY XAVIER.

THEY TOOK OVER IN THE SECOND QUARTER AND REALLY NEVER LOOKED BACK.

NORTH POLK DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER FOR WHAT THEY BROUGHT TO HIM THE.

THEY STARTED TO GET THE SHOTS TO FALL.

THEY RAMPED THINGS UP DEFENSIVELY.

AND NORTH POLK COULD NEVER MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS TO BE ABLE TO CLIMB BACK INTO THIS BALLGAME.

>> XAVIER COMES INTO THE STATE TOURNAMENT AS THE EIGHT SEED.

THEY BEAT TOP-SEED BISHOP PHELAN BY 18 AND TODAY THEY TAKE CARE OF THE SECOND-SEEDED NORTH POLK COMETS, 66-47.

>> LAURA: THE CELEBRATION WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE OTHER END OF THE FLOOR.

THEY HAD TO CALL THEM BACK AS THEY WERE PUTTING ON THEIR PINK SHIRTS.

GOOD LOOK AT TUTTLE.

WHAT A GREAT CAREER SHE HAS HAD.

NORTH POLK JUST FUN TO WATCH.

>> PRESENTING THE AWARDS IS BRENT GENERAL ISN'T, PRESIDENT TESTIFY THE IOWA FARM BUREAU.

HE'S ASSISTED TODAY BY SENATOR JONI ERNST.

ALSO JOINING HIM ARE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTEDDORS.

HERE IS YOUR CLASS 4A TOURNAMENT TAME.

FROM XAVIER, MADDEN WILSON.

FROM NORTH POLK, BECCA AAGARD.

>> FROM NORWALK, BRAYDEN BIRMINGHAM.

>> FROM BISHOP PHELAN, MELANIA SNOOZY.

FROM NORTH POLK, ABBY TUTTLE.

>> AND YOUR CLASS 4A FROM XAVIER, LIBBY FANDEL.

WHAT AN ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM HEADLINE.

LIBBY FANDEL, SHE DID IT AS A FRESHMAN AND NOW THE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM CAPTAIN AGAIN AS A SENIOR.

I WOULD TAKE THAT GROUP RIGHT THERE UP AGAINST ALMOST ANYBODY.

>> LAURA: I THINK YOU COULD WIN A FEW GAMES WITH THAT GROUP.

THAT'S...

THEY ARE ALL VERY DESERVING.

ALL OF THEM HAD GREAT TOURNAMENTS.

YOU HAD MENTIONED HEADLINED BY LIBBY FANDEL AND WHAT A GREAT TOURNAMENT.

37 POINTS IN THE QUARTERFINALS, 21 IN THE SEMIFINALS, AND HERE TODAY, 36 POINTS.

>> AND 14 REBOUNDS.

>> LAURA: 14 REBOUNDS.

>> I WOULD LIKE THE PRESENT THE TOP PRODUCER AWARD FOR THE 4A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

PRESENTING THE AWARD IS TAYLOR ANDERSON OF THE IOWA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC UNION.

THIS EUROPE'S TOP PRODUCER OF THE 4A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, FROM XAVIER, LIBBY FANDEL.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] >> B.J.

: AND THE AWARDS JUST KEEP ROLLING IN.

>> LAURA: THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT TO CELEBRATE THIS EVENING IN CEDAR RAPIDS WITH COACH LILLY RETIRING.

A LOT OF TEARS OF HAPPINESS.

THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE COACH LILY GO.

>> YOUR CLASS 4A RUNNER UP, THE COMETS OF NORTH POKE AND HEAD COACH CLINT ALBERTSON.

>> AND FANS, LET'S HEAR IT FOR YOUR 2025 CLASS 4A CHAMPION, THICS EXSAINTS' HEAD COACH TOM LILLY.

>> AND THERE IT IS, THE HARDWARE IS HEADED BACK TO CEDAR RAPIDS AGAIN FOR THE CEDAR RAPIDS-XAVIER SAINTS.

THEY KNOCK DOWN 66-47.

THE DEFENSE LED THE A LOT OF OFFENSE.

>> LAURA: IT REALLY DID.

THE MORE THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE STOPS, THE MORE CONFIDENT THEY GOT.

YOU COULD JUST SEE THAT GLOW IN THEIR FACE AND THAT LOOK IN THEIR EYES THAT THEY KNEW IF THEY KEPT PRESSING ON, THE WAY THEY DID, THEY WERE GOING TO WIN THIS CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> LET'S TURN IT OVER THE PAUL YEAGER.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GREAT JOB B.J.

AND LAURA.

LOOKING THROUGH THE RECORD BOOK, LET'S RECAP ONE MORE TIME.

LIBBY FANDEL SET A RECORD FOR MOST POINTS IN CLASS 4A IN A TOURNAMENT.

SHE ALSO SET A RECORD IN 4A AND ALL CLASSES.

SHE TIED IT IN REBOUNDS WITH ANNA KIEL FROM UNII CAN CHRISTIAN IN THE FIVE-PLAYER ERA.

CONGRATULATIONS TO HER.

CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH TOM LILLY ON A GREAT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WE HAVE TWO MORE BIG GAMES TO GO TODAY.

CLASS 4A IS DONE.

WHEN WE COME BACK, 2A AND 1A.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WARPING.

IT'S CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER WITH A STATE TITLE.

YOU'RE WATCHING COVERAGE OF THE STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FROM DES MOINES.

TWO MORE TO GO ON THIS SATURDAY.